Product Series Launch

New Bari+Max Lineup Designed for Evolving Needs of Bariatric Patients

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Mar 28, 2023

A new line of durable medical equipment is addressing the needs of bariatric patients — while also acknowledging that every patient is unique.

Dynarex Corp.’s February launch of its Bari+Max line includes “a robust selection of heavy-duty products featuring weight capacities of up to 1,000 lbs.,” the company said in a news announcement. “The line spans mobility, bathroom safety, long-term care beds, home care beds, patient lifts and slings, and more.”

Dynarex said it created the Bari+Max line “to meet the needs of larger users, prioritizing the safety of patients, caregivers, and medical providers.”

Obesity Numbers Continue to Rise

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show how common obesity is in the United States. Data from 2017 to 2018 showed the prevalence for obesity in adults was 42.4 percent, while 9.2 percent of adults were considered severely obese and had a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Severe obesity was most common, the CDC added, in adults 40-59 years old.

The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) said an estimated 15 million adults in the United States are considered severely or morbidly obese, with a BMI of 40 or higher. And ASMBS said about 50,000 adults in the United States are super obese, with a BMI of 50 or higher.

In a March blog post, Dynarex said, “Inclusivity is a hot topic in healthcare today — and no wonder, as it aims to eliminate barriers to ensure access for all individuals. Weight inclusivity in particular focuses on promoting health and well-being for people of all sizes. But for patients affected by obesity, finding and accessing equipment that accommodates their unique needs can be a challenge. Fortunately, today’s bariatric equipment is designed to help larger individuals with mobility and daily living activities.”

The Bari+Max line comprises walkers, rollators, crutches, and canes; wheelchairs, including those with features such as elevating legrests and recline; bathroom safety and hygiene products, including bath benches, shower chairs, and commodes; beds; mattresses; air or foam wheelchair seat cushions; patient lifts; and equipment for patient rooms, such as a recliner, foot stools, and overbed tables.

Heshy Grosinger, Bariatric Product Expert for Dynarex, said products in the Bari+Max lineup, “are specially constructed to accommodate the real-life needs of larger users and provide them with optimal comfort, safety, and mobility in clinical, long-term care, and home care environments.

To accommodate higher weight capacities, Bari+Max products feature larger widths, sturdier platforms, and heavy-duty supports, Grosinger added: “The welds for these items are reinforced and engineered for long-lasting use by larger patients. In addition, most of our Bari+Max products are designed for tool-free assembly and adjustments, providing time-saving convenience to users and medical staff.”

Expediting Bariatric Equipment Provision

Dynarex added that its Bari+Max strategy includes making the lineup of products easy for home medical equipment suppliers to provide.

While other manufacturers produce bariatric equipment on a made-to-order basis, “We are going to be one of the first companies to actually stock these products in all of our six national warehouses, and we will make these available through all of our distributors,” said Dynarex’s VP of Global Sales, Bill Roberts. “Thanks to Bari+Max, medical equipment distributors will find it easier to provide their customers with the high-quality bariatric equipment they need when and where they need them.”