Morbid obesity is among today’s worrying health conditions, and every year it affects an increasing number of people. The most effective way to combat obesity is frequent exercise and physical activity. This can be a challenge for any heavy person, especially when looking for the best exercise equipment for morbidly obese people to use at home.
Cardiovascular exercise is the type of activity generally recommended for people with excess body weight. Ideally, if you want to lose weight, start with 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week and work up to as much as 90 minutes three or possibly even five times a week.
Going to the local gym can be very intimidating for someone who is obese. It’s the main reason many people prefer to do workouts at home, at least until they reach their weight loss goal.
So which exercise equipment is best for weight loss and for someone seriously overweight? This post has the answer.
Which is the Best Home Exercise Equipment for Obese People?
This guide covers the most common types of exercise equipment for obese people. It lists the benefits of each, the muscles targeted, the cost of both new and used equipment/machines, and shares some tips on exercising.
Treadmill
Most treadmills are great for anyone whose goal is weight loss. You can use a treadmill for indoor running and walking and adjust it for varying speeds. Treadmills help you to build functional strength as well as endurance. You exercise on a relatively stable platform using only your body weight, and it’s easy to get on and off this workout machine.
Benefits
- Adjustable depending on your needs
- You get a full-body workout as well as endurance and cardiovascular fitness
- Variable exercise program options
- You can work out at your own pace
Calories Burned
It depends on not only your weight but also how intensely you work out.
The American College of Sports Medicine reports that a person weighing 190 pounds burns approximately 94 cal while walking for a distance of 1 mile at a 3 mph pace. A 130-pound person burns about 64 cal, and a 150-pound person burns 74 cal.
Training Intensity
You can adjust the difficulty level of a treadmill according to your ability. High-intensity exercises burn more energy. Simply increase the treadmill incline or speed as you become more capable.
Suitable for Home Gym
Standard treadmills designed for the home are unlikely to be good enough for someone who is obese. Treadmills in most gyms are a better option.
Price Range
$2,000-$3,000 is average for a well-made treadmill with plenty of extras.
You can find used treadmills for considerably less, around $500.
Usage Tips
- Not suitable for people with joint pain
- Unsuitable for someone who suffers back pain when walking
- Check the weight capacity of the machine
Seated Exercise Bike
This workout equipment has a mechanism that looks like bicycle pedals, but it is attached to a rod, and you use it in a seated position. The tension is adjustable, depending on how much resistance you want. The faster and harder you pedal, the more energy you use and the greater the cardiovascular benefit. You can even use this cardio machine to work out your arms.
Benefits
- Inexpensive and convenient exercise equipment
- Adjustable Tension/resistance
Calories Burned
The number of calories you burn while exercising on a seated exercise bike depends on the length and difficulty level of your workout routine and your body weight. Making predictions is difficult, but Harvard Health Publishing reports that 30 minutes of moderate stationary biking burns about 210 cal for a 125-pound person, 252 cal for a 155-pound person, and 292 cal for a 185-pound person.
The more vigorous the exercise, the more energy you use.
Training Intensity
You can use a seated exercise bike for HIIT.
Suitable for Home Gym
This is a very affordable option for any home.
Price Range
You can purchase a new seated exercise bike for a few hundred dollars or find a pre-owned exercise bike for under $100.
Usage Tips
- Adjust the exercise bike to make it more comfortable and increase workout effectiveness
- Warm up correctly by stretching before you use the bike, as this will reduce the risk of injury
Elliptical Trainers
Traditional elliptical trainers are versatile workout equipment but tend to be expensive. An elliptical machine or cross trainer offers a great all-around body workout. Finding one with the correct weight capacity shouldn’t be too difficult. Look for an elliptical trainer with a very high weight capacity.
With elliptical trainers, you can experience the feel of cross-country skiing together with a stepping motion. Your feet remain on the elliptical pedals, so it’s also joint-friendly. Some elliptical models also have arm poles that allow you to work out your upper body.
Benefits
- Very versatile workout equipment
- Elliptical trainers can be used for walking, running, jogging, and hill-climbing
- Match the settings to your fitness level
- The resistance can be increased to meet your fitness and weight loss goals
- Ellipticals help build leg and upper body strength
Calories Burned
A very efficient way to burn fat with a caloric expenditure equivalent to 300 to 500 cal per session. Longer sessions mean extra calories burned.
Training Intensity
Great for cardiovascular workouts or aerobic exercise
Suitable for Home Gym
These can be used at home but are expensive and require a lot of space.
Price Range
Expect prices for a new elliptical trainer to be from $500 to $5000. Better quality equipment costs more.
You can find a used elliptical trainer for around $200, but high-quality models could be as much as $3,000.
Usage Tips
- Good posture helps to minimize muscle strain and injury potential
- Don’t lean on the handles. Instead, use your arms to push and pull the handles with your pedaling movements.
- Increasing the resistance for each workout helps build muscle, increase strength, and improve endurance.
Under Desk Exercise Bike
This is good exercise equipment if you’re not up to walking or simply don’t like it. An under-desk exercise bike is ideal for people who are obese because it doesn’t need to support their entire body weight. The only downside is that it’s an exercise machine you’ll quickly outgrow.
Benefits
- Boost cardio fitness
- Expend more energy while sitting at your desk
- Ideal starter for morbidly obese people
- You can also use it for upper body workouts
- Small enough to use anywhere
Calories Burned
Pedal for an average of 50 minutes per day, and you’ll burn an estimated 107 cal.
Training Intensity
Low to moderate training
Suitable for Home Gym
Yes, very suitable home exercise equipment, and you can take it to work with you.
Price Range
A new under-desk exercise bike should be no more than $150. A used one could be as little as $50.
Usage Tips
- To keep the bike in place, you must pedal downward
- Start slowly at the minimum resistance and get used to pedaling downward
- When pedaling, focus on keeping your upper body still
- Sit towards the front of your chair and use a lumbar cushion for back support
Recumbent Bikes
A recumbent bike is low-impact workout equipment that provides a great workout for morbidly obese people. It is like a regular exercise bike but has a reclined seat and back support. The recumbent bike handlebars are shoulder-level which means less pressure on the wrists.
You’ll find recumbent bikes gentle on the ankles, knees, and back. However, while a recumbent bike is easier to use than an upright bike, it doesn’t offer an optimal workout. This is because the recumbent bike design means you only work out the lower half of your body.
Benefits
- Recumbent exercise bikes are low impact
- A recumbent bike requires only a base level of fitness
- You get a lower-body workout with minimal risk of injury
- You can cycle for longer on recumbent bikes because your legs don’t need to bear the weight of your body
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
On average, you can burn 210 cal for a moderately intense 30-minute ride on a recumbent bike.
Training Intensity
Excellent equipment for low-impact, high-intensity exercises
Suitable for Home Gym
Very suitable for home use if there is enough space
Price Range
For a decent recumbent exercise bike, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,000. For a used one, you could pay less than $500.
Usage Tips
- If you want a full-body workout while using this equipment, hold dumbbells or work hip twists into the session
- Check the weight limit before you buy one
Upright Exercise Bike
If you are morbidly obese, ensure an upright exercise bike has the correct weight capacity. Most tend to max out at 350 pounds. It does, however, offer better full-body workouts. Also, make sure your joints can handle the stress of cycling.
Benefits
- Exercise bikes strengthen legs and lower body muscles
- Improve cardiovascular health and fitness
- Low-impact cardiovascular exercise
- A safe machine for all levels of fitness, even overweight people
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
Harvard Health Publishing reports that 30 minutes of moderately intense stationary biking burns about 292 cal for a 185-pound person. A 30-minute vigorous stationary bike workout burns approximately 441 cal for a 185-pound person.
Training Intensity
Great for HIIT training
Suitable for Home Gym
Very suitable for home use
Price Range
Upright exercise bikes can cost from $200 to $1,000 new. A used model may be less than $500.
Usage Tips
- Look for a bike with an oversized seat as this will be more comfortable and feel safer
- Don’t set the handlebars too low as this will lead to pain or discomfort over time
- Maintain good posture: a neutral spine and your elbows slightly flexed
Home Gym Packages
Home gyms are tricky to find for an obese person. However, they are all-in-one exercise machines, so you won’t need to buy any other heavy-duty exercise equipment.
Benefits
- You can use them for various different exercises like chin-ups and leg routines. Some even incorporate rowing machines
- You can create a gym at home that meets your needs
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
This is almost impossible to quantify because it depends on the specific equipment, training frequency, and workouts you do.
Training Intensity
HIIT training and low-impact exercise
Suitable for Home Gym
Yes, the only restrictions are weight limit, budget, and space.
Price Range
Prices start from $1,000 and go up to $5,000. Used home gym packages are cheaper.
Usage Tips
- Look for a package with a sturdy seat
- Check the weight limit of the various parts of the gym package
Mini Trampoline
Trampolines have been around for decades. They’re great exercise, burn fat effectively, and are fun. Unfortunately, the trampolines you find in most stores don’t have sufficient weight capacity. Before buying, make sure its bodyweight capacity is enough.
Benefits
- Low impact but a great calorie burner
- High-intensity exercise but also low impact on your hip and knee joints
- Provides an effective cardiovascular workout
- Helps tone multiple body parts
- Bouncing enhances motor skills and helps flush toxins out of the body
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
It depends on how hard you’re working and your weight, but in 10 minutes, you could burn between 50 and 150 cal.
Training Intensity
HIIT training is possible
Suitable for Home Gym
Yes, suitable for home use
Price Range
New and used prices are less than $100.
Usage Tips & Exercises
- Jump barefoot or in a pair of grippy socks
- Start with basic moves like jumping jacks or jogging on the spot
- Store your trampoline somewhere children under 6 can’t access it
- Check for extended weight capacity
Motion Trainers
These are elliptical trainers designed to cause less impact stress and reduce joint soreness and fatigue. They incorporate a maximum of 12 distinct body motions and twenty levels of exercises. A motion trainer has all you need for the perfect home workout.
Benefits
- You can change the incline and stride length
- Offers more than a cardiovascular workout
- Target specific muscle groups, such as the lower body, upper body, glutes, and core
- Provides non-weight bearing options for users with orthopedic issues
- Very versatile machine
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
Depending on how intensely you work out on the machine, you could burn an impressive 800 to 1200 cal in an hour.
Training Intensity
HIIT workouts are possible
Suitable for Home Gym
Yes, this exercise equipment is suitable for home use but requires a lot of space and a big budget.
Price Range
A new motion trainer could be upward of $5,000. A used motion trainer will cost much less, even lower than $1,000.
Usage Tips & Exercises
- Always warm-up before using the motion trainer
- Keep your body and head facing forward
- For safety, hold on to the stationary handlebar
Stair Steppers
Stair steppers are low to moderate exercise machines. They are a good starting point for the very obese. You can improve your cardiovascular fitness in a few weeks before moving on to more moderate or intense workouts.
Benefits
- Easy to learn
- Low impact
- Improves cardio health
- Strengthens muscles
- Improves balance and coordination
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
For people weighing 175 and 130 pounds, 30 minutes on a stair stepper burns 243 and 162 cal, respectively.
Training Intensity
Step machines offer moderate to intense aerobic activity.
Suitable for Home Gym
Very suitable for use at home
Price Range
Stair steppers are relatively inexpensive and can cost less than $100. Used steppers will cost much less.
Usage Tips & Exercises
- Try not to hold onto the handrails
- Make sure to step with your whole foot
- Let your legs do the work
- Avoid leaning or slumping on the machine
Exercise Balls
Exercise balls can provide an excellent workout and caloric burn. More so than an exercise bike or steppers. You use them for moderate to intense exercise, and they help in building muscular stability, strength, balance, symmetry, and flexibility.
Benefits
- Very versatile exercise equipment to help you lose weight
- You can start exercising with minimal effort and work up to more hardcore exercises
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
Harvard Health Publishing estimates that a 185-pound person will lose about 133 cal in 30 minutes of general strength training.
Training Intensity
You can use exercise balls for low, moderate, and high-intensity exercise.
Suitable for Home Gym
Yes, these are suitable for use at home.
Price Range
Most new exercise balls are $15 to $50. Used exercise balls typically cost less than $20.
Usage Tips & Exercises
- The best way to use an exercise ball as a beginner is to practice simple core and leg exercises.
- Select the best ball for your height. Your feet should be flat on the floor when you sit on the ball.
- Deflate the ball slightly for easier use.
How To Choose The Right Home Exercise Equipment When You’re Obese?
The bottom line is that if you’re going to buy exercise equipment, most of what’s available is going to help you lose weight, even weight benches, and dumbbells. Our top tip is to choose exercise equipment you will enjoy using to lose weight – that’s a good choice!
Best Used Gym Equipment is one of the best suppliers of refurbished exercise equipment for obese people in the US.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking it’s time to get yourself in shape, one of the exercise machines in our list of the best exercise equipment for obese people will help you achieve your body weight goals.
However, it’s important to remember the best exercise equipment is only a tool. Unless you work at it and combine your exercise routine with a well-balanced healthy diet, you’ll struggle to lose weight.
