NHS trainee nurses will train on a “realistic” obesity manikin so they can offer “inclusive” care to overweight patients.
Medical students from Aston University in Birmingham also learn how to perform CPR and place intravenous lines on the female mannequin.
As the UK grows in size, future clinicians will also learn to manage and intubate larger patients.
Such procedures can often be more difficult in obese patients because fatty tissue can make it difficult to access the veins and perform chest compressions at sufficient depth.
The makers of the doll – which has a built-in skeleton and large breasts to reflect the actual body shape of fat people – hope it will teach students how to care for and move gracefully around larger patients.
Medical students from Aston University in Birmingham also learn how to perform CPR and place intravenous lines on the female mannequin. With Britain’s ever-expanding waistlines, future medics will also learn to handle and intubate larger patients
Such procedures can often be more difficult in overweight patients because they have a higher percentage of adipose tissue, making access to veins difficult, for example. The makers of the doll – which has a built-in skeleton and large breasts to reflect the actual body shape of fat people – hope it will teach students how to care for and move larger patients gracefully
Typical medical training mannequins are “little more than beanbags,” argued the team that developed them. It’s called R42 and represents the 42 percent of American adults who are overweight
The latest NHS data shows that 26 per cent of adults in England are obese and a further 38 per cent are overweight but not obese.
Typical medical training mannequins are “little more than beanbags,” argued the team that developed them.
It’s called R42 and represents the 42 percent of American adults who are overweight.
Other larger mannequins are already used in medical schools around the world.
But Aston University, which developed the device with consultant Simulation Man, claimed R42 was the first realistic example.
The first female doll will be installed for students at the university in December, with a second in early 2024.
Developers are also currently exploring opportunities to create additional practice models to reflect Britain’s ethnic diversity.
Professor Liz Moores, deputy dean of Aston University’s College of Health and Life Sciences, said: “Many patients are overweight, so it is useful to have experience with overweight patients.”
“As an obese female doll, she also has large breasts.”
“We want our students to know how to revive people regardless of their body type.”
Around two-thirds of over-16s in England (64 per cent) are overweight, including tens of thousands who are morbidly obese. Obesity rates have been rising for decades, with experts blaming a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet. The number of children in childhood is also increasing dramatically; a quarter of children in care are now considered overweight and one in ten are considered obese.
The first female doll will be installed at the university for student use in December, with a second to follow in early 2024. Developers are also currently exploring options to create additional dolls to reflect Britain’s ethnic diversity, the team told MailOnline.
“While the range of mannequins has expanded to include race, age and, more recently, certain disabilities, there is no realistic looking and feeling fat mannequin in the UK.” “The development of R42 is very important.”
Meanwhile, Simulation Man’s Jacob Rahman added, “It will be a global product.
“I think we’ve really underestimated the impact and the global scope of this so far.
“The most important aspect is that students learn to be compassionate towards obese patients, to be inclusive and to ensure that they are aware of unconscious biases.”
“Every medical and nursing university in the world should have one.”
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, told MailOnline: “Manikins are absolutely essential for the training of today’s medical staff – or the staff needed to transport overweight people in a hospital or community setting.”
“Staff and patient safety during the move is extremely important.”
“This Aston training mannequin is the latest version of a device that has been in use for about fifteen years and is also used by all emergency services in the country to train firefighters in their role of rescuing people from their homes.”
Obesity rates have been rising for decades, with experts blaming a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet.
Waist circumference has also increased significantly among children: a quarter of children in care are now considered overweight. One in ten is classified as obese.
An unhealthy weight increases the risk of serious and life-threatening diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and stroke.
Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
