Living Large: Products for the Obese

Jan. 5, 2009— -- Carlos E. Galindo is a big guy.

Weighing in at more than 450 pounds, he thinks twice before sitting down in a chair.

Once, during a trip to the doctor, a seat collapsed under his weight.

"I am very cautious of where I go and where I sit," he said today. "Imagine the embarrassment of falling there in the lobby of a doctor's office."

So now when he goes to outdoor concerts or any other venue that might have flimsy folding chairs, Galindo simply walks out to his car and gets a special heavy-duty portable chair designed to hold his weight.

Galindo bought his chair from Living XL, part of the Casual Male Retail Group, better known for its big and tall clothing shops. He had previously purchased several chairs from big-box stores such as Sam's club but always struggled to get one wide enough or one that didn't start to break after a few uses.

"These things are crucial to the comfort of a person my size. It changes the way you are able to live your life," Galindo said. "I want that same comfort you have."

Portable chairs are just part of a line of accessories and everyday gadgets that Living XL has designed for America's growing heavyset population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 34 percent of Americans age 20 and older -- more than 72 million people -- are obese. That is up from 15 percent three decades ago.

And Living XL hopes to capture that expanding market.

The company's catalog offers wide bike seats, heavy-duty scales, giant robes, oversize towels and nearly 450 other items specifically designed for heavy Americans.

"We understand this customer, his daily life," said David A. Levin, CEO of Casual Male Retail Group. "If you're working in your garage, you need a stool that can carry your weight. If you're going to your kid's soccer game, you need an extendable chair to sit in. If you're at your office, you need an office chair that can support your kind of weight. It takes on so many dimensions."

Casual Male's main business is selling clothing to big and tall men. But in 2006, Levin was looking to expand the company.