Many Australian children too fat to fit into standard car booster seats

In a survey conducted between February and April 2005 a sample of parents with children aged 4-11 years in New South Wales and Victoria completed a questionnaire on the height and weight of their children and the nature of restraint devices used in the family vehicle.

The 692 responses provided information on 1,500 children and the researchers from Monash University's Accident Research Center say as many as 40% of children, who according to their height, need booster seats, are too large to fit in to the appropriate seats for them, but are too short for seatbelts.

The researchers suggest this has possibly forced parents to restrain their children by using seatbelts, and this they say places the children in even more danger.

The study has led the scientists to believe that there is a need for bigger booster seats, capable of supporting children over 10kg.

Study co-author Dr. Shaanie Koppel says other Western societies have recognised that older children and larger children need to be catered for in terms of booster seats and have adapted standards so that booster seats can accommodate larger children.

Dr. Koppel says consideration should be given for bigger child restraint seats.

Experts say the study is just the latest data to confirm Australia's obesity problem and follows calls for bigger furniture and hospital beds, strengthened ambulances and even stronger equipment in mortuaries.

They say the study is just one more sign that there are serious weight problems across the community and the issue threatens the safety of children.

The study authors say in view of increasing rates of overweight and obesity in children, it is important to reassess current Australasian standards for child restraints in vehicles.

They suggest a concerted parental education campaign is also needed to raise awareness of which restraint types are appropriate for children of various heights and weights.

The study is published in the Medical Journal of Australia.