As Americans get bigger, x-rays get fuzzier

Obesity is playing havoc with Americans’ health, and it’s also making it difficult to diagnose their ills.

A recently-published study looked at imaging examinations over the past 15 years and found that the number of inconclusive exams, whilst still small, had doubled during that time.

They attribute this to the growing girth of Americans; too much fat makes it more difficult to conduct ultrasounds and x-rays.

With CT scans and MRI scans, engineers are having to increase the weight capacity of the tables for the tests; manufacturers recently increased the weight limit for CT scans from 450 pounds to 550 pounds (that’s 250kg).

Around two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight or obese.

Source: Radiology 2006, 240:435-439; Medline Plus www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus