The moment has finally arrived. It’s time to replace one or more of the beds in your home.
Since a bed should be replaced every 10 years or so, you’ve gotten older and more likely heavier.
(In this regard, anyone would ask): Can A Heavy Person Ruin A Mattress?
Short answer – yes. Most standard mattresses are designed to support approximately 230 to 250 lbs. This definitely means that heavier folks sleeping on these mattresses will cause them to sag, which results in a less comfortable sleep surface. All in all, there are firmer mattresses with a thicker profile that offer a more comfortable sleeping surface for heavier sleepers.
If you weigh more than 230 pounds and are in the market shopping for a mattress, you need to look for a mattress designed for plus-size and big-and-tall sleepers.
In this article, you will learn more about mattresses, particularly those designed for heavier sleepers.
Seven Things To Look For In A Mattress For Overweight People
Everyone needs a supportive mattress and a good night’s sleep, but this is more critical for heavy folks.
Considering that obesity is associated with poor sleep quality, sleep apnea, and daytime sleepiness, a rigid yet comfortable mattress can help heavier sleepers get better sleep and feel adequately supported while sleeping.
If you weigh 200+ pounds, here are the things to look for in a mattress to ensure it offers the support your body requires.
1. Mattress Thickness
It is common knowledge that heavier sleepers should go for thicker mattresses with plenty of comfort layers.
These mattresses offer better compression support, meaning there is more to sink into for a cozier feel when sleeping.
A general rule of thumb is that mattresses for folks heavier than 230 lbs. should be at least 12-13 inches thick.
2. Mattress Firmness
Another essential feature to consider when buying a mattress for heavier individuals is mattress firmness. That said, people who weigh 230 pounds or more need considerably firmer mattresses.
While firmness preferences are subjective, most standard mattresses will feel softer to heavy folks because they put down more weight on the mattress.
To ensure you get a comfortable sleeping surface, you will need a mattress rated moderately firm.
Apart from your weight, remember to account for your sleep position when selecting the firmness you prefer.
Generally, back and stomach sleepers need less padding but more support to align the spine, evenly distribute weight, and alleviate the pressure that can cause spine problems and hip pain.
If you’re fond of side-sleeping, you will need a firmer mattress with more cushioning to compensate for the added pressure and help align the spine.
Side-sleeping doesn’t align the spine and may lead to extra pressure points in the hips, back, shoulders, and neck.
3. Materials
This is a critical consideration regardless of your body type.
Mattresses made using low-quality materials sag easily, resulting in a less than pleasant sleep experience after a few weeks or months.
The mattress you pick should have enough support to keep your body aligned.
That said, latex, innerspring, and hybrid mattresses are best for heavier persons. They offer varying sleep experiences, and, needless to say; each has its pros and cons.
4. Pressure Relief
Bigger people put a lot of pressure on their bodies, particularly when sleeping.
To alleviate the feeling of being “stuck” in the mattress every morning, you need to buy a highly responsive bed that cradles your body.
In this regard, innerspring, latex, and hybrid mattresses allow for incredibly easy movement across the surface.
Although pressure relief is more tied to sleep position, mattresses with a layer of a memory foam feel comfortable, ideal for couples making love.
5. Contouring
Ideal contouring reduces pressure along spines, shoulders, and hips while ensuring the bed doesn’t sag excessively.
If you weigh over 200 pounds, it is good that you get a mattress that doesn’t sink excessively. That said, all-latex mattresses have decent contouring but are relatively expensive.
6. Edge Support
Although this is not a mandatory feature, it can play a significant role if you often sit on your bed.
Good edge support is an indication that your mattress is of premium quality and helps you not slip off the mattress.
7. Cooling And Temperature Regulation
Overweight and larger folks often sleep hot, which can significantly affect sleep quality and deprive them of a good night’s sleep.
For this reason, you want to buy a mattress that has cooling materials near the sleeping surface and has enough room to breathe and allow for air circulation.
Thankfully, many premium qualities are nowadays designed with a gel layer or infusion that helps cool folks who sleep hot.
The coils in innerspring mattresses facilitate improved airflow and heat distribution, making them one of the go-to options for many individuals with obesity.
While you can get the feature in any type of mattress, some are certainly better than others.
Generally, heavy sleepers need a supportive mattress that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. If you are married and both you and your partner are substantially heavier, you will have limited options.
All in all, there are various mattresses that blend comfort and support to ensure you both have a good night’s sleep.
You will likely need a solid foundation to offer additional support, which is also recommended by most manufacturers.
The Four Types Of Mattresses
There are different types of mattresses on the market today, all with their strengths and weaknesses, particularly when it comes to the unique needs of overweight people.
Here are the most popular types of mattresses, and they work for people with 200+ pounds.
1. Innerspring
These mattresses come with a steel coil layer, which makes them strong to stand up to more weight.
If you elect to buy innerspring, look for coil-on-coil options; otherwise, the investment won’t last long.
The only issue with innerspring is that they have a shorter lifespan because the springs compress over time.
2. Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses are not significantly different from innerspring, but they usually have a thicker layer on top.
The strong spring foundation gives these mattresses more support and pressure relief, while the comfort lawyers make a great sleeping surface.
Hybrid beds with latex layers are super bouncy and make you feel more relaxed.
3. Latex
Although the quality of these mattresses can vary significantly, they are a solid option for overweight people.
Premium-quality options cushion the body without feeling overly soft.
They are durable with plausible springiness and comfort. If you want an all-latex bed, be ready to spend more because they are far from being cheap.
4. Memory Foam
Many swear by memory foam beds, but, honestly, they are not an ideal option for heavier sleepers.
Although they are designed to even out pressure points, they are too soft and flimsy to support over 200 pounds.
If you are obsessed with memory foam, you will need an extra effort to get a better quality option, which also costs slightly higher.
The Main Reason Why You Should Own A Bed That’s Rated For Heavy People
If you haven’t guessed it yet, a heavy person can significantly ruin a mattress.
That said, even if you are not overweight and are comfortable with a standard mattress, you might need to stock at least one bed for heavy people.
You will only know the benefit of having such a bed until you get someone different from you.
The primary reason for having a bed rated for heavy persons is to have it ready should you host an overweight guest overnight.
If you or your guest put down a lot of weight on a standard mattress, be sure that the mattress will get ruined.
Conclusion
Individuals weighing over 230 pounds can significantly ruin a mattress, particularly when it (mattress) is not designed to withstand heavy sleepers.
If you are significantly heavier or anticipate hosting or renting to overweight persons, you need to get a mattress rated to stand up to more weight.
Related
References
Best Mattress for Heavy People: Buying Guide
The 8 Best Rated Mattresses for Heavy People – Our 2021 Picks
