NHS trainee nurses will practice on a ‘realistic’ obese manikin so they can become ‘inclusive’ of overweight patients.
Medical students at Aston University in Birmingham are also learning how to perform CPR and apply intravenous lines to the female manikin.
Given the increasing size of Britain, future clinicians will also learn how to handle and intubate larger patients.
Such procedures can often be more difficult in overweight patients because they have a higher percentage of fatty tissue, which makes veins more difficult to access, for example.
The makers of the doll – created with 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 with dignity.
Medical students at Aston University in Birmingham are also learning how to perform CPR and apply intravenous lines to the female manikin. In light of Britain’s ever-expanding waistline, future medics will also learn how to handle larger patients and how to intubate
Such procedures can often be more difficult in overweight patients because they have a higher percentage of fatty tissue, which makes veins more difficult to access, for example. The makers of the doll – created with 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 with dignity
Typical manikins used in medical training are “little more than beanbags,” the team that created them argued. It’s called R42 and represents the 42 percent of American adults who are overweight
The latest NHS data shows that 26 percent of adults in England are obese and a further 38 percent are overweight but not obese.
Typical manikins used in medical training are “little more than beanbags,” the team that created them argued.
It’s called R42 and represents the 42 percent of American adults who are overweight.
Other larger manikins are already being used in medical schools around the world.
But Aston University, which created the device with consultancy Simulation Man, claimed R42 is the first realistic example.
The first female doll will be installed at the university for students to use in December, with a second in early 2024.
Developers are also currently exploring options 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 a female obese manikin, it also has large breasts.
‘We want our students to know how to resuscitate people, regardless of their body type.
Around two-thirds of over-16s in England (64 percent) are overweight, including tens of thousands who are morbidly obese. Obesity rates have been rising for decades, with experts blaming sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets. The number of children in children is also increasing dramatically, with a quarter of children in care now considered overweight and one in ten obese
The first female manikin will be installed at the university in December for students to use, with a second in early 2024. Developers are also currently exploring options to create additional manikins to reflect Britain’s ethnic diversity, the team told MailOnline .
‘While diversity in manikins has already expanded to include skin colour, age and more recently certain disabilities, a realistic looking and feeling obese manikin is not available in the UK. The development of R42 is very important.’
Meanwhile, Simulation Man’s Jacob Rahman added: “This will be a global product.
“I think so far we’ve really underestimated the impact and global reach of this.
‘The most important aspect is that students learn how to have empathy with obese patients, how to be inclusive and ensure they are aware of unconscious biases.
“Every medical and nursing university in the world should have one.”
Obesity rates have been rising for decades, with experts blaming sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.
Waistlines have also soared among children, with a quarter of children in care now considered overweight. One in ten is classified as obese.
Being at an unhealthy weight increases your risk of serious and life-threatening conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and stroke.
Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year.