"Will the Elevator Beep When I Get In?"... Larger Bodies, Unchanged Elevator Standards

Analysis of UK and European Elevator Standards
Weight Limits Remain Unchanged Despite Rising Obesity Rates
Researchers: "Body Shape Changes Not Reflected"

A recent study has found that elevator design standards in the UK and Europe are failing to reflect the rising prevalence of obesity. The research team pointed out that, in addition to safety concerns, people with obesity may face discrimination and inconvenience when using public facilities.

According to the UK’s Guardian, Professor Nick Finer’s team from the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organization (IPWSO) announced at the European Congress on Obesity, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, that the weight limit standards for elevators in the UK and Europe do not reflect increasing obesity rates.

Elevator. Unsplash

The research team analyzed data on the maximum passenger load of 112 elevators manufactured between 1972 and 2024 in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Finland.

Professor Finer divided the total permissible weight of the elevators by the maximum number of passengers and compared this figure to the average adult weight at the time of manufacture.

Researchers: “Average Weight Has Increased, but Elevator Capacity Remains the Same”

The study found that while average adult weight has continued to rise, the total permitted load of elevators has barely increased since 2004. In the mid-1970s, the average weight for UK men was 75 kg and for women 65 kg, but those numbers have now risen to 86 kg for men and 73 kg for women.

The allowable weight per person in elevators increased from about 62 kg in 1972 to 75 kg in 2002, roughly keeping pace with rising body weights at that time. However, since then, most manufacturers have assumed an average adult weight of 75 kg—about 4 kg less than the current average adult weight.

Professor Finer noted that manufacturers, in shifting their design basis from weight to available floor area, have not sufficiently considered the changes in body shape resulting from increased obesity. He said, “Manufacturers have not adequately accounted for the fact that as obesity rates rise, people occupy more space.”

He also explained that if design standards do not match reality, this could lead to safety issues. If the actual number of passengers that can fit is lower than the design capacity, the efficiency of vertical transportation decreases; if the total permitted load is exceeded, there is a risk that the elevator could stop operating.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Unsplash

“Public Facilities Must Be Updated to Reflect Reality”

In particular, Professor Finer expressed concern about the psychological stigma that people with obesity may face when using elevators. He stated, “This can be a form of everyday weight discrimination,” and emphasized, “It is necessary to update various facilities to reflect reality so that people with obesity are not excluded from society.”

He added, “If we do not acknowledge trends in obesity and changes in body shape, it will become even more difficult for these individuals to live in society.”

Commenting on the study, Jane DeVille-Almond, President of the British Obesity Society, said, “We must recognize that society will not revert to the body shapes of 50 years ago, and we need to develop facilities that are suitable for the 21st century.”

Dietitian Louise Payne also stated, “Public facilities are not simply a matter of convenience, but of dignity, accessibility, and inclusivity,” adding, “No one should feel shame or exclusion when using public transportation or everyday services.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.