Growing Aussies need sturdier toilets

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Growing Aussies need sturdier toilets

Associated Press

SYDNEY, Australia - Sturdier toilets may be on their way in

Australia to cope with the country's increasingly obese population.

Standards Australia, a nongovernment group that establishes safety

and design standards, is considering recommending strengthening loos

for larger users, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Obesity levels have been rising for years in Australia.

Standards Australia spokeswoman Kate said the current industry

standard for toilet seats is just 100 pounds and that the group is

looking to increase it to 330 pounds.

Experts will examine the seats " from the perspective that people are

getting bigger, " said.

Steve Cummings, a committee member for Standards Australia and head

of research and development at toilet maker Caroma Dorf, told Sydney

tabloid The Daily Telegraph that toilet seats need to be

strengthened for larger Australians.

" If you are going to sit on it, you want it to hold you, " he said.