Finding the right mattress especially when you are obese is quite difficult. Yes you will find majority of mattress brands fabricated with 3 to 5 layers of latex and memory foam. Others will feature independently wrapped coils layered between two foams. This is to ensure the mattress conforms to the body, shape and weight of the user. If you are obese, chances are the mattress will sag under your weight even if the mattress is constructed with latex, coils or memory foam.Problems escalate when the user has the wrong bed. When you combine the wrong mattress and wrong bed, it impacts the user’s health negatively. Poor sleeping patterns during the night as a result of discomfort will result in fatigue which in turn contributes to stress eating finally resulting in obesity. During the night, discomfort is brought about by many factors.
For starters, if the mattress is built with materials that are unable to support the user’s weight, it will sag. This will lead to lower back pains the next day. Secondly, if the cover does not wick moisture away, the bed will be uncomfortable. This will eventually develop into a bad odor. Lastly, the core should be strong. This will not only support the weight of the user but it will ensure no one experiences lower back pains each morning.
There are factors you need to consider when shopping for mattress for heavy people/obese.
1. Mattress firmness
According to experts, people who are obese tend to feel comfortable when sleeping on a medium to firm mattress. Those who prefer medium firmness do so because the mattress offers long lasting support especially to heavy sleepers. It also conforms to the body shape and weight eliminating chances of awakening with lower back pain. Medium and firm ranges of mattresses are fabricated from heavy duty latex and memory foam which provides the much needed push back when slept on. To make a better choice, here is a simple table to help you select the right mattress according to weight and firmness.
a. Weight – 200 to 300 pounds
Firmness for Latex – 21 to 29
Firmness for memory foam – 24 – 36
b. Weight – 300 to 350 pounds
Firmness for Latex – 21 to 29
Firmness for memory foam –28-36
c. Weight – 350 to 400 pounds
Firmness for Latex – 25 to 33
Firmness for memory foam – 28-36
d. Weight – 400+ pounds
Firmness for Latex – 33 to 38
Firmness for memory foam – 28 to 44
What you need to remember is that the table above is just a guide. It is important if you are obese to seek the help of an expert before purchasing a mattress for heavy people/obese. This will ensure that you end up with the right product that will not only provide the much needed support for years to come but you will be assured of a goodnight sleep too.
2. Mattress types
Over the years, technology has improved production of mattresses leading to better support and a goodnight sleep. In the past, many people were used to foam mattresses but companies switched from foam to innerspring to provide a better experience.
As years went by, product development resulted in latex and memory foam mattresses which are very common in the market today. To better understand what is available;you can read this mattress guide ( https://mattermattress.com/best-mattress-for-heavy-people/) to choose the best mattress for obese people.
a. Latex mattress
Latex is one of the modern materials used in the manufacture of mattress. The material has been preferred for its ability to provide immense comfort and cooling. This is great especially when sleeping in areas where high temperatures are common during the night. Furthermore, latex offers much bounce than traditional foam mattresses. It is also durable which makes it the best mattress for heavy people/obese since it will handle the body mass and pressure.
b. Memory foam
Memory foam is another brilliant material that is available in modern mattresses. It has become the good choice for its ability to be layered. This provides the much needed support to the body. Furthermore, it’s best for obese people because it conforms to the body, shape and weight of the user. This helps to relieve pressure points by providing consistent support regardless of the sleeping position. Discomfort is a thing of the past when you select memory foam mattress. When infused with gel particles, it provides cooling layers which eliminate the sleeping hot problem.
c. Innerspring
This type of mattress is characterized with built-in independently wrapped coils/springs. It is built so to provide excellent support to the user. The mattress does not sink easily and provides much better edge support than traditional foam mattresses. This is great if you are in the habit of sleeping close to the edge. It also absorbs heat quickly because the springs are independently wrapped. This allows air to flow freely between the coils. There are problems users will encounter with this model. First, the innerspring mattress is not durable. Second, they make noises when under the weight of an obese people. Thirdly, the mattress has poor motion isolation.
d. Hybrid mattresses
The mattress can be a combination of enclosed innerspring and memory foam or latex. They are designed to provide 50/50 ratio of comfort. Hybrid mattresses share features with the innerspring, latex and memory foam. For starters, there is better airflow between the coils. This eliminates the chances of sleeping hot. It has improved compression and better edge support for people who love to sleep close to the edge. This type of mattress is not only suitable for providing a good night sleep but it’s also great for bedroom activities which include reading or watching television. They are a good fit for people who are obese as it provides a more holistic experience. Its features include:
-Luxurious fabric cover
-Gel infused memory foam
-Independent coil technology
e. Air mattress
This refers to high end beds which are designed to appear like innerspring mattresses. They have air filled chambers instead of independently wrapped coils. This is ideal for people who are obese and those with spinal injuries. For better support, you may add air toppers. When shopping for an air mattress, you need to consider the following:
-Depression support
-Comfortable rest
-Firm
-Body support
3. Mattress Thickness
This is an important factor when deciding which mattress for heavy people/obese. In the market, you will find thickness ranging between 10 inches and 14 inches or more. The thicker the mattress, the better support it offers. This is because it is designed with high quality materials (latex or memory foam) which are layered together in order to push back against the pressure generated by one’s weight. Thicker mattresses are also beneficial if you love to sleep close to the edge. This means they will not sag which is common with traditional foam mattresses. This is the same with the center where most of the weight is usually placed by many people especially if they are sleeping alone. To better understand what type of thickness is suitable for a particular weight range, here is a simple table that illustrates this:
a. Weight – 200 to 300 pounds
Recommended minimum thickness – 10 to 11 inches
b. Weight – 300 to 350 pounds
Recommended minimum thickness – 11 to 12 inches
c. Weight – 350 to 400 pounds
Recommended minimum thickness – 12 to 14 inches
d. Weight – 400+ pounds
4. Airflow
When it comes to purchasing mattresses for obese people, many will forget about airflow. This is an important factor to consider and should not be overlooked. What experts have been able to find out is that people who are overweight experience difficulty when sleeping at night. This is as a result of overheating or what experts refer to as sleeping hot. When this happens, it is common for the body to sweat. Sweat is not good as it results in the existence of bad odor agents. This is not what you want because getting the odor out means airing the mattress. Furthermore, sweat will stain the cover as most mattresses come with a white top cover. Innerspring mattresses are built with independently wrapped coils. They are spaced away from each other allowing proper airflow. This cannot be compared to a mattress made with latex and memory foam. This is because memory foam and latex mattresses utilize open cell technology. It is much more advanced and allows better airflow. Open cell technology also draws heat away from the body allowing you to enjoy a cool night of sleep. Between innerspring and memory foam/latex, the latter is the better option. Not only is it readily available, but it is not susceptible to damage like the former.
5. Bed size
Bed size is usually a matter of personal choice but when it comes to weight, it is an important consideration. This is because the type of mattress you choose should fit well with the type of bed you have. Furthermore, your bed should be able to provide the much needed support not only for your weight but the weight of the mattress too. There are different types of bed you can choose. You can go for the vintage hardwood bed which is crafted with unique designs and is available as queen, king or platform or you can choose another design but available in the listed sizes. If you are unsure which bed is suitable for you, then its best to seek the counsel of a specialist. An expert will help you to better understand what is suitable for you.
6. Edge support
Every person has a sleeping style that they prefer. There are those who sleep on their side, others on their stomach while others on their back. There is a special group of people who love to sleep close to the edge of the mattress. The reason they are special is because they have a unique reason for doing so. When choosing a mattress for obese people, it is important to consider edge support. For starters, many people will sit on the mattress edge before sleeping or when waking up. To support your weight, the edge should be stable and strong. This helps to avoid sagging and caving. Furthermore, if you love to sleep close to the edge, poor support will result in you ending up on the floor. This is not what you want as you may injure your head, back, legs or hands. The best mattress that will provide better edge support is one made with memory foam and latex. This is because the materials are layered together.
7. Mattress motion isolation
If you will be sleeping alone, then mattress motion isolation will not matter much. If you are a couple and one or both of you are obese, then it’s an important factor to consider. Mattress motion isolation refers to the phenomenon where the mattress localizes or absorbs the movements of the user. The best mattress that is ideal for couples and has better motion isolation should be able to absorb the following movements – tossing, turning, getting in and out of bed. While these movements are in play, the other person should not be able to experience any disturbance. The one disadvantage with good motion isolation is the lack of bounce. This may hinder a few pleasure seeking bedroom activities. Despite that, it provides immense comfort to the sleeper.
a. Memory foam
This offers you the best motion isolation than any other type of mattress for obese people. It has thicker foam infused with gel particles that absorb different movements with ease. It also has a higher density.
b. Hybrid mattress
As said earlier, this is the type of mattress where memory foam is layered together with other materials for example memory foam and innerspring. The mattress uses specialized coils which minimized motion transfer. Furthermore, they help to localize the motion.
c. Latex
When it comes to latex mattresses, motion isolation may vary as a result of processing type. Talalay processed latex has fair isolation while Dunlop processed latex provides good motion.
d. Airbeds
This refers to mattresses with air filled chambers and they are known to have fair to good motion isolation. The reason for this is attributed to the separation of chambers thus limiting motion transfer.
e. Innerspring
Depending with the spring/coil type, you will experience fair to poor motion isolation. If you select open coils or continuous coils, you will experience fair to poor isolation. If you choose pocket or offset coils, motion isolation will range between good and fair.
8. Price
When shopping, it is important to look for good deals. This does not mean that you have to compromise on quality. Doing so will result in you being stuck with a bad mattress or making a return trip to the store. Today, you can find free price comparison tools offered by major ecommerce and product review sites. Using this tool will allow you to know which products are within your budget and which are not. Remember, you don’t have to break the bank when shopping for a mattress. Yes there are brands with a solid reputation that price their mattresses highly but there are upcoming brands with much better products priced affordably. Take your time and research.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have all the information, you can finally select the mattress for heavy people/obese. Just a recap of the factors – you need to consider mattress thickness, firmness, mattress type, size, airflow, bed size, edge support, mattress motion isolation and price. With this in mind, your shopping experience will be much simpler than ever. You don’t have to appear clueless when at the store. All you have to do is walk in, make the right choice and walk out with your brand new mattress.
Mattress Guide 