Businesses struggle with a fatter America

WASHINGTON POST ^ | November 23, 2003 | Margaret Webb

[traumer]

Pity Debora Senytka, a design engineer in General Motors' human/vehicle integration department. Her challenge: to create normal-looking vehicles that can accommodate the expanding derrieres of the expanding American without giving up the cup holders and consoles, DVD screens and air bags that U.S. drivers have come to expect.

America's growing obesity "was never considered" until five years ago, Senytka says. Now it's "a very real situation." The problem is finding the space to fit a wider passenger "because there's so much more going into a vehicle than there was 10 years ago."

[traumer]

The TV commercial for Swanson Hungry Man dinners..., with the tag line, "It's good to be full."

[Admin Moderator]

Post only brief excerpts of Washington Post material per the settlement, please.

[dc27]

I hope the auto makers have a second model for the hefty crowd. Just simply add XXL to the end. My wife had a friend that was over 300 lbs. I never figured out how she fit into her little Acura hatchback. So much for crumple zones.

[traumer]

OK.

[templar]

I saw a guy in a chevy the other day that was so fat he actually had the seat back reclined almost all the way down and was laying almost flat on his back to get his stomach into the vehicle and clear the steering wheel.

That can't be safe.

[EggsAckley]

I watched a VERY large young lady getting out of her little compact car yesterday. It was cruel. It looked like she was taking off a garment, not getting out of a car.

[Admin Moderator]

Thank you.

[muggs]

I read somewhere they are even starting to make bath towels larger because there are so many large people nowadays.

[cyborg]

I work in a health food store next to a restaurant. I swear the lady in the passenger seat had to be at least five hundred pounds. When she opened the door, the fat rolls sort of...dropped down where the seat belt was. When her friend came back, wouldn't you know... a super sized soda pop and a large tray of food.

Accomdating bad behavior only makes people sicker.

[dc27]

I wonder if her car always pulls to the left?

[dc27]

Whenever I go to Starbucks, I can always guess the drink choice of the large ones. It is a venti mocha frappachino with whipped cream and extra caramel on top. 100g of good ole simple carbs.

[cyborg]

:sigh: the fat in the milk wouldn't be so bad if they were not having the sugar. I surmise that is not their only specialty beverage for the day.