Australian hospital opens new ward to cope with obese patients (AFP)

SYDNEY (AFP) - Demand for super-sized facilities for extremely obese patients has led an Australian hospital to open a specialist ward for their heaviest visitors.

The room in the Royal Melbourne Hospital, which will accommodate up to two patients at a time, will have stronger beds, wider doorways, strengthened armrails and a reinforced toilet.

"It's to help people who may be obese; to give them treatment in a dignified way and also to ensure their safety and the safety of our staff," the spokesman told AFP.

"It's not going to be used exclusively by obese patients."

The hospital, in the country's second largest city of Melbourne, would see only about five or six patients in the very obese range of between 350 and 500 kilograms (770 to 1,100 pounds) each year, he said.

"But it does appear to be on the increase," he added.

Obesity rates in Australia have more than doubled in the past 20 years, with around one in three citizens currently classed as overweight or obese.

Government estimates predict that by 2020 some 75 percent of Australians will be in these categories.

Obesity increases the risk of many diseases including diabetes, heart disease, strokes, certain cancers, gout and high blood pressure. It costs Australia about 1.5 billion dollars (1.15 billion US) each year in health costs.