If you spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, you need to know how important it is to have a quality chair that provides the right support. Choosing the wrong chair may impair your posture, cause oblique pain, and affect overall productivity.
However, with the increased number of different types of chairs in the marketplace, it has become quite a journey to find the one that suits your needs. This may be especially challenging for heavier people, as most chairs are made to fit people of average size and weight.
With that in mind, we’ve done the research to find the optimal office chairs for a heavy person that you should keep on your radar.
The Importance of a Quality Office Chair
We’ll be discussing the best office chairs for overweight people shortly, but first, we need to break down why it is so important to have a good quality desk chair.
If you combine a chair with inadequate support and long hours of sitting, you’ll become very prone to developing lower back and neck pain. Moreover, some serious conditions like swollen feet may come as a result. To get ahead of this, you may want to learn how to prevent feet swelling while sitting at a desk.
When it comes to higher-quality chairs, they are usually described as ergonomic and have a number of features that offer greater comfort and support. It is essential that the chair you choose provides proper lumbar and pelvic support. In this way, your muscles will be less stressed and you’ll get a number of other benefits. Some of these benefits are:
Better Posture
You may not be aware of this, but if you tend to lean forward or slouch over your desk when sitting, you probably don’t have a chair with the correct back height. Sitting in this position for an extended period may significantly worsen your posture.
It is important to adjust the height to sit with your feet flat on the floor and knees at the angle of 90 degrees, and your hips parallel with the floor. With an ergonomic chair that has adjustable height functionality, you’ll be able to do so and maintain proper posture.
Reduced Pain
The most common consequence of sitting in an inadequate chair is lower back and neck pain. Traditional chairs don’t usually have headrests, so your head is constantly unsupported, which results in neck and back problems.
Higher-quality ergonomic chairs come with headrests that properly support pain points and promote relaxation and reduced body pain.
Lower Hip Pressure
When you’re sitting, your hips bear the burden of most of your weight. With heavier people, this is even more of a problem. Traditional chairs usually have hard surfaces that put even more pressure on the hips, but ergonomic ones come with a suitable seat depth that provides proper support and helps reduce the pressure.
Enhanced Productivity
In the end, when we are at our desks, we all want to be more productive. However, when you have body pain, that isn’t really achievable. So, by using a comfortable chair that suits your needs and frees your body from pain, increased productivity will likely come as a result.
What to Look For in an Office Chair
When purchasing a new chair, many believe that if you splurge, you can’t go wrong. If you belong to this group, you should check how the Herman Miller Aeron chair measures up.
But, before you spend a lot of money on a chair, make sure to pay attention to the features we’re about to mention so you can choose the one that suits your specific needs.
Seat Width and Depth
Before purchasing a chair, make sure to pay attention to the seat width and depth, as it is essential for comfort. The normal width of an office chair is between 17 and 20 inches, but if you’re a heavier person, look for one that has a wider seat that will fit you properly. When it comes to seat depth, your seat should allow you to sit with your back against the backrest. There should be 2 to 4 inches between the back of your knees and the seat of the chair.
Lumbar Support
This is crucial if you don’t want to end up with pain in your lower back. You should pick a chair that can support the inward curve of your lower back and enable you to have the proper posture all the time.
Seat Materials
A variety of materials are used for making chairs — fabric, mesh, leather and faux leather. The choice you make ultimately depends on your preference, but it is important to choose a material that is breathable. Just make sure not to choose too hard of a surface as sitting can become painful after a few hours. If you go too soft, you won’t afford yourself the support you need. Find a nice balance that you’re comfortable with.
Headrest and Armrest
It’s not only your back that needs the support. When buying a chair, it’s good to get one with a headrest and armrest, as they will support your head and arms and take some strain off your neck and shoulders.
Adjustability
An ergonomic chair should be completely adjustable, so you can customize it to your needs. This refers to seat tilt, headrest, lumbar support, and height.
What Is an Office Chair for a Heavy Person?
No matter whether you are heavy and tall or a person of average size and height, it is essential to take into consideration everything previously mentioned if you want to make the best possible choice for yourself.
However, there is one more feature that overweight people need to pay attention to, and that is the weight limit of a chair. There are chairs designed with big and tall people in mind and their weight limit is over 300 pounds. Some have a weight limit of 500 pounds.
The Best Office Chairs for a Heavy Person
These are some of our preferred options as far as the best office chairs for a heavy person go:
Serta Big and Tall Ergonomic Office Chair
This chair is often described as “sitting like an executive.” With premium ultra-smart layers, layered body pillows and smooth bonded leather, this chair offers great comfort. Cushioned armrests and an elevated headrest add even more to the comfort. What is important is that it is made of heavy-duty components and supports between 350 and 400 pounds. Moreover, it has smooth-rolling casters that make it easy to move around.
Buy on AmazonBigroof Big and Tall Office Chair
Besides the comfort that this thick padded seat provides, the chair also offers breathability via a mesh backrest. It supports up to 400 pounds, and with a 360° swivel and nylon smooth-rolling casters, it has great stability and mobility. It also features an adjustable height, armrest, back angle and lumbar support massage benefits.
Buy on AmazonBestOffice Big and Tall Office Chair
This chair is proportioned for those of above average height and weight, with a 500-pound weight limit. The seat width measures 24 inches and the height of the seat can be adjusted from 20 to 23 inches. Smooth leather, padded seat cushions, and lumbar and headrest pillows offer great support and comfort.
Buy on AmazonBottom Line
Sitting in a good-quality chair that gives you the right support is important for both overweight and average-sized people. Heavier people have just a few more features to pay attention to when buying a chair. Ultimately, we all deserve the right kind of support — and we’re confident that with these options, you’ll be able to find the chair that’s perfect for you.
