This is definitely a chair that can hold a heavy individual. I am a tall and big woman and fit just fine with ample room. You can feel how sturdy it is when putting it together. Don’t let the metal under part of the chair fall on your foot when taking it out of the box. It really hurts. Gave it only 4 stars because the chair seat itself could maybe use a touch more padding, but I also have a broken tail bone making sitting a challenge. I’m tail bone challenged.