Obesity creating new challenges for funeral homes and crematories

The problems created by obesity don't end with death. While alive, the morbidly obese must deal with furniture, airline seats, and clothing that is not quite designed for their weight or proportions. After death, their remains create new challenges for funeral directors and crematories.

To accomodate significantly obese individuals, casket manufacturers have created new product lines of generous proportions. Families of morbidly obese individuals now have a greater range of casket choices, although the costs of these caskets are expected to be higher than those of regular models.

Crematories are also adapting to this growing segment of the market. Some larger individuals are simply too large to be cremated safely in standard crematories. Manufacturers of crematoria are developing models to accomodate a broader range of sizes, but it will take time for the cremation industry to make the upgrades. The problem is especially acute in the UK, where only a few crematories can handle larger remains, according to the Observer.