From the research out there, it seems like there aren't too many fitness equipment or cardio machines out there designed specifically for people who are excessively overweight and looking to change their lives. Changes in eating lifestyle aside, the workout side of weight loss for people ranging from 300+ to 1000 and or BMI's above 30, seems to be rather neglected if not ignored (fitness equipment and aerobic classes are geared towards people who are already moderately in shape).

From what I've learned talking to trainers as well as articles online, there is a huge intimidation factor and psychological issues to combat at that size in regards to working out in public. A common complaint for example is that the average treadmill cannot support people 400#s plus.

I'm looking to design cardio machines + specific strength gaining equipment for individuals looking to take themselves out of the morbidly obese state and transition themselves back into that desired weight range (ideally where they are comfortable working out in public settings such as gyms).

Factors:
Joint & Bone Stress
Dangers of prolonged elevated heart rates
Poor coordination skills

Articles like this one (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/alinks4.htm) from bodybuilding.com were great. But what advice, experience, or thoughts do you guys have concerning what should be included in the design of these types of workout products? What key features do you think should be included or taken into account? Whatever feedback you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Aqua-sizing. Sensible both for the obese and for the elderly.

The perfect "gateway" workout which can lead to walking, then to walking faster, then to walking hills...

That said, the more tools out there for people wanting to take the reigns, the better, so all the best with your project, Kerstin and welcome to traineo.

Hmm, tough question, is there really even a need for this type of equipment? For one, it would probably only have a commercial market as it wouldn't make sense for most individuals to purchase this equipment for home use because if they succeeded in losing weight the equipment would essentially be no longer suitable.

Like Minu said, morbidly obese people will get an excellent workout just by walking and exercises such as lifting their arms over their heads 15 times. The next easiest transition is just to pick up some light dumbbells.

Because they are so overweight, a consistent yet simple exercise regimen would produce results enough to eventually allow the use of regular equipment. I don't think it's a lack of equipment that is a very big obstacle, but more of motivation and consistent effort.

That being said, the number of people entering the "morbidly obese" category grows every year and having more options available to those looking to get healthy would certainly be a benefit.

Perhaps you could hook-up with a health center that specializes in overweight individuals. They seem to be your target market. While there probably aren't too many right now, I bet there will be a steady increase in their number.

I think the larger problem is not lack of equipment, but rather lack of an effective means to keep them motivated.

You deal with a lot of behavioral problems: depression, self esteem issues, lack of fitness knowledge and know-how, and a good deal of inculcated habits that need to be broken or reversed.

Now couple that with the fact that you will need to work on these problems aggressively for a prolonged period of time -- something on the order of two or three formal meetings a week with additional consults (like taking hotline calls) as needed for at least three months.

For me, the ideal fat loss service for morbidly obese people would look something like this:
1. Staff of dedicated cognitive behavioral therapists (to create treatment plans and train day staff).
2. Day staff to provide in-home exercise visits or shuttle service to an exercise center for patients.
3. Dieticians to create meal plans.
4. Cooks to create meal plans and deliver to patients as part of the comprehensive program.
5. Option for extended live-in programs or "fat loss vacations".

Cover everything. Hold their hand every step of the way. Anticipate excuses and other self-sabotaging behavior and implement measures to remove them.

There are already plenty of business models built on providing partial services and blaming customers for failure because some self destructive habit counteracted the benefits of the service.

The closest I've seen come to this is Dr. McDougall's Health Clinics and Adventure Travel programs. However, these are still a little too light on behavioral therapy and exercise for what I had in mind -- diet is only one part of the picture. Mental health and exercise are the other two factors.

That was my impression as well. The population of severely overweight individuals who are very motivated and attempt to get in shape but can't use exisiting equipment is probably prohibitively small.

I was wondering how often the exercise limitations and starting points would overlap those of people in need of physical therapy due to trauma, stroke, or even the elderly. Having this designed with 'Universal Design' in mind might open up some additional avenues in regards to providing physical therapy equipment for trainers

I saw one of those fat man documentaries on the Discovery Health and they basically had a movable lat pulldown machine that they could position over his bed so he could get some exercise without having to leave the bed. But that's a pretty specialized piece of equipment. Not too many bed ridden 700 pound people out there looking to get some lat pulldown reps in.

Physical therapy needs are often quite unique so I'm not sure how a piece of equipment could be tailord to be all-encompassing. Seems like the place for band exercises and light dumbbells, etc., which are in use today.

my brother died at the age of 54 and 420 pounds. Truely, exercise equipment for him would have been a joke! Just walking up three steps was an incredible work out for him and walking to the end of the block was out of his range of movement. Movement of any type is the way to go.
I think everyone has hit on the key issue... at that weight, motivation and physical limitations are the hindering factors to exercise.

I have to agree. Water aerobics, water walking... wonderful for the obese, elderly and even the injured. Classes are usually such that you can work at your own pace and there are always modifications.

If there's no class, walking/jogging laps offers a good workout by itself.

Unfortunately, many who are very overweight, especially women, tend to be intimidated by the idea of getting in the pool. Yet it's perhaps one of the best ways and least likely to cause injury for a morbidly obese person to start out.

I think the idea of band exercises, dumbbells, simple walking are all good. The needs of each very obese person are likely to be different. Some will hardly be able to walk, others can move on their own, though it may be with difficulty.

BTW... I was in the morbidly obese category a year and a half ago. Walking was becoming too taxing on my bad ankles. My BMI was 41... now it is starting to dip under 35.

Now. I have to say I am technically Morbidly obese as my doctors tell me.. most people that see me, say they would NEVER even call my obese... obviously I know I need to lose weight but simple walking and stairs isnt' enough for me.

I think there IS a market for better equipment. Yes I can technically use the equipment at gyms but they make me nervous at times.... for my range I would say that you can even try making the same equipment just sturdier... For example... I love the treadmill.. but considering my weight I am too scared to "Run" on the treadmill or put it at too high of an incline, unsure if it can handle the bouncing weight of me trying to run...

It's devistating to get on a treadmill and try hard and want to run but hear it squeek or make any other noise. I have no idea if I am going to break it and if I'm just 275 to 280 I can't imagine how it feels for those that weigh more.

I also think bikes with a little bigger seats, I would go on the bike so much more but as I weigh more, my butt is bigger and the seat will start to really hurt. A larger seat alone would help me to stay at it longer.

I also feel that there would be a high market as those who need to lose weight are typically to intimidated (with good reason) to go to a gym or go outside... I say with good reason because in the past when I was even lighter but "appeared" heavier I was made fun of out side when trying to work out and at gyms. Some people out right say "She better be here longer than me with that fat ass" or "Don't walk or run out here, no one wants to see that" ... Is it right for people to say? No.. but unfortunatly some people do.

I think you are on to something with either full out equipment like this OR even assists that you might be able to add to other equipment.

All just my opinion Good luck!

I don't doubt that there are people out there that would want it, use it and benefit from it, I'm just not convinced that it's a large market. This equipment is going to be more expensive than your standard equipment so that limits the private market right there. Regular equipment is sometimes cost prohibitive. Are commercial gyms going to purchase all heavy duty equipment? Probably not, at best they're going to have 1-2 high weight treadmills and other equipment and then you're still left with the stigma of having to use the "heavy duty" equipment.

There's a big difference between finding people that could use something and making a successful business around that product. It's the same reason drugs that can cure certain diseases get shelved, if it "only" saves
a few hundred people a year, there's no profit in it. Same thing with the equipment.
They already have bigger bicycle seats.

they should invest in a recumbent bike.

Considering that my plantar fasciitis injury was specifially the result of using a recumbent bike to do intervals... I'm not in that camp myself! My foot doctor actually warned me against using the recumbent in the future. Apparently I'm not the only person he's seen injured and my regular doctor said the same thing. I'll take the uprights from now on. Though I agree, the seats could be better.

It might be possible to buy a gel pad to take with you and slip on the seat for a little extra padding.

On the marketing... I suspect that building heavier duty equipment will also put the cost of said equipment up considerably and make it difficult for individuals to purchase it. Likewise for some gyms. I'm pretty sure my small town gym could not afford it. Nevertheless, a nice idea and might be worth researching to see if it could be pulled off.