Amusement Park Ride Manufacturer Halts U.S. Sales, Citing Obesity Concerns

BERLIN – In a controversial move that has sparked outrage across the United States, German amusement ride manufacturer Gröningen Rides announced today that it is suspending all sales and installations of its popular spinning ride “The Rotor” to American amusement parks and carnival operators. The company cited concerns that the average weight of American adults, which has climbed to 181 pounds for men and 171 pounds for women, exceeds the ride’s operating limits.

“The Rotor has a strict weight limit of 200 pounds per passenger,” said Dieter Landsberg, CEO of Gröningen Rides. “With obesity rates skyrocketing, many American adults now surpass that threshold, rendering this thrill ride unsafe.”

The Rotor is a circular ride where riders board individual tub-like cabins that spin around a central rotational point. As the entire platform spins, centrifugal force pushes riders towards the outer edges, pinning them against the outward-facing wall of their tub. The g-forces increase as the ride accelerates up to its maximum speed of 27 rotations per minute.

Landsberg stated that above the 200 pound weight limit, the tremendous centrifugal forces involved could potentially cause injuries or even a catastrophic structural failure of the ride. He explained that too many overweight riders creates a dangerous imbalance.

“It’s like an unbalanced load of laundry in your washing machine,” Landsberg said. “With enough heavy weights on one side, the entire system can wobble out of control and tear itself apart.” He cited data from the CDC showing 73% of American adults have a body mass index of 25 or higher, which for most people corresponds to weighing over 200 pounds.

“This was a difficult but necessary decision to protect our customers and uphold strict safety protocols,” Landsberg said. “Until the United States gets its obesity epidemic under control, we simply cannot risk allowing our rides to operate there.”

The announcement drew immediate condemnation from American amusement park operators as well as obesity advocacy groups. The Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions called the move “discriminatory” and warned of legal action. Meanwhile, major U.S. ride buyers like Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and others vowed to seek alternate suppliers.

“A 200 pound weight limit excludes nearly three-quarters of American adults from riding,” said Chris Johnson of the Obesity Action Coalition. “Amusement park rides should be a fun experience that everyone can enjoy, not another venue for discrimination and body shaming.”

Gröningen Rides was unmoved by the criticism, stating that safety policies will dictate the company’s actions on this issue. As for existing Rotor rides already installed at U.S. parks, the company said it would require mandatory weight checks and enforce the 200 pound limit.

The controversy seems likely to spark a broader debate around obesity, public safety standards, and discrimination in the amusement industry. Health experts warned that alienating overweight customers could backfire by discouraging physical activities that help manage weight. Park operators, meanwhile, feared loss of revenue if most of their customer base could no longer ride.

For now, any hopes of most Americans being able to ride The Rotor appear stuck in a holding pattern. With both sides digging in their heels, the fight over the fate of this thrilling spinning ride seems destined to continue spinning for some time.