Speaking at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Professor Nick Finer, president of the International Prader Willi Syndrome Organisation, said lift capacity signage — which states the maximum number of passengers — is now “out of date” because manufacturers have not updated their assumptions about average body weight for more than two decades.

Manufacturers are required to display both maximum load and maximum passenger numbers. But Prof Finer said these figures no longer reflect reality, with the industry still basing calculations on an assumed average passenger weight of 75kg — a figure that matched the UK population in the 1970s but has not kept pace with rising obesity levels.

Average weights in the UK have increased from 75kg to 86kg for men, and 65kg to 73kg for women, according to national health data.

Prof Finer analysed 112 lifts manufactured between 1970 and 2024 across seven European countries, comparing their stated capacity with population weight trends. He found that between 1972 and 2002, lift load limits rose in line with increasing body weights. After 2002, however, manufacturers stopped adjusting their assumptions, even as average weights continued to climb.

He warned that this mismatch means lifts may be overestimating how many people can safely and comfortably fit inside, potentially increasing journey times and creating unnecessary stigma for people living with obesity.

“Lift capacities are overestimated, meaning journey times are likely to be increased and safety could be compromised,” he said. “What’s more, suggesting more people can fit in a lift than is comfortable is stigmatising.”

The findings come as obesity rates continue to rise across the UK. The Scottish Health Survey reports that two‑thirds of adults in Scotland are overweight, with one‑third living with obesity. In England, NHS figures show 30% of adults were obese in 2024, and 66% were overweight or obese.