Britain's escalating obesity crisis is creating a significant challenge for the funeral industry, with directors reporting a surge in demand for coffins that are too large for standard cremation facilities.
Industry professionals have issued a stark warning that the growing number of overweight, obese, and morbidly obese individuals is driving the need for outsized caskets. This trend is simultaneously pressuring crematoriums across the country to install larger, more powerful furnaces to accommodate the increased dimensions.
The Changing Dimensions of Farewells
According to listings reviewed by the Daily Mail, the standard coffin width has already increased from its traditional 18 inches to 20 inches. However, the market now includes 'oversized' caskets specifically targeted at the obese, with some models reaching up to 28 inches wide. Many of these specialised coffins from one provider were noted as being sold out or low in stock, indicating high demand.
Robert Swanson, Scotland's Inspector of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Directors, highlighted the severity of the issue in his recent annual report. He identified 'very large and heavy coffins' as one of the most significant challenges faced by crematorium staff in the past year. The report documented at least one instance where an oversized coffin placed on the catafalque—the raised platform for displaying a casket—could not be lowered due to its size.
Practical Problems for Bereaved Families
The logistical difficulties extend beyond the ceremony itself. Tim Purves, president of the National Association of Funeral Directors (Scotland), confirmed that some coffins are simply too large for existing furnaces. This forces grieving families to abandon plans for cremation and opt for burial, a shift that can be both emotionally and financially taxing.
Mr Purves, who also runs William Purves funeral directors, shared his observations with the Telegraph: 'When I started 25 years ago, the standard width of a coffin was 18 inches. But now we use a 20-inch coffin as standard. Occasionally, we require a 24-inch coffin, but there are occasions when we need an even wider coffin than that.'
He added, 'We have had occasions where the deceased is too large to be cremated... Due to the size, they've had to have a burial.'
The situation has become so pronounced that in 2022, coffin maker Steven Mitchell revealed on a Channel 4 documentary that he had been required to build coffins as wide as 39 inches. He explained to the late Mail columnist Dr Michael Mosley that the widest part of a person is often no longer the shoulders but the waist, necessitating difficult conversations with families about coffin size and the associated costs, including burial plot fees that can be £400-£500 extra.
The Statistical Reality of a Growing Problem
This trend is underpinned by three decades of almost consistent year-on-year growth in obesity rates, attributed to factors like fast-food consumption and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
The most recent Health Survey for England provides stark figures: between 1993 and 2022, the average weight for men rose from 78.9kg to 85.8kg, while the average weight for women increased from 66.6kg to 72.8kg. Overall, 64 per cent of adults are now classified as overweight or obese, a significant jump from 53 per cent thirty years ago, with a greater proportion now falling into the obese or morbidly obese categories.
The problem is most acute in Scotland. Last month, health chiefs warned that issues linked to excess weight are projected to worsen in the coming decades. A Public Health Scotland study forecasts that around 154,000 more people will become obese by 2040, largely driven by the availability of cheap, unhealthy food, which in turn creates a higher risk of premature death.
Commenting on these findings, Claire Hislop, organisational lead on food and physical activity with Public Health Scotland, stated: 'The evidence shows we must accelerate progress on bold, preventative measures that reshape the food environment and ensure healthier options are accessible, affordable and widely available.'
