Did you know that the average office chair is intended to handle only people who weigh up to 250 pounds and that most chairs won’t stand up to a person weighing even 200 pounds for more than a few months? Given the fact that overweight people are actually in the majority in North America, this seems a bit counter-intuitive. A lot of people need office chairs that are a good deal sturdier. Having a chair break beneath you can be humiliating, and of course it’s expensive to keep on replacing office chairs. You may need to spend a bit more, but it’s going to be necessary to purchase sturdier chairs for larger workers.
What Does a Large Person Need in an Office Chair?
First and foremost, the seat has to be wider than usual.
Sitting in a chair that makes you feel as if you’re “fastened in” because the
armrests aren’t far enough apart isn’t going to make for a comfortable day at
work.
The back will also need to be wider and firmer, and there
should be additional padding on both the back and the seat. This is because a
large person will cause the padding to compress more than usual, and the chair
needs to maintain a decent level of comfort all day.
Wheels need to be well-constructed so that the chair will
roll even when the person’s full weight is in the chair. The chair should also
be easy to adjust – for that matter, any office chair should be easily adjusted.
Pay attention to these details when choosing your chair.
You’re going to be paying more for a large person’s chair, and you want to make
sure that you get the most for your money.
Good Health For Large People in the Office
This isn’t meant to be judgmental, but it’s important for
everyone to make sure they get some time of exercise when they’re in a
sedentary job. For large people, it takes on great significance because they’re
generally more prone to illnesses like heart attacks or strokes than their trimmer
co-workers. It’s important to move around from time to time, so get up and
stretch a bit, or just wander about.
It’s also important to remain properly hydrated. Coffee
doesn’t do it – it’s actually a diuretic, and diet sodas aren’t really all that
good for you. To keep your vital organs working properly, make sure that you
drink plenty of water while you’re at work. Fruit juices, in moderation, can
also be a good alternative to coffee and soda.
A Hint for Everyone
This tip isn’t specific to large people. No matter what
size you are, or what size office chair you need to occupy, it’s very important
not to spend too much time at your desk staring at a computer screen. Many
people, after a long day at the computer, find that their eyes are burning and
they just want to lie down and cover their eyes with a nice cool cloth. Other
people might go home and think that their eyes are just fine. However, you can
actually damage your eyes if you spend a lot of time staring at a screen over
the same distance, and often you won’t even experience symptoms. It’s important
to make sure that you look away from time to time and focus on other things.
Your eyes need exercise, just like the rest of you.
Summary
It’s worth spending the money on a heavier, sturdier chair designed for large people if you weigh over 250 pounds. It’s also important to
look after your overall health, both in the workplace and at home.