Obesity is a growing epidemic in America. Current statistics suggest that 39.8% of the American adult population is obese. Carrying extra weight can lead to significant health problems during life, and it can create some unique challenges for surviving loved ones after death.

If you are faced with the task of making arrangements for a morbidly obese loved one, keep these three important considerations in mind.

1. Find the right funeral home.

For many family members, contacting the funeral home is the first step in making arrangements for a loved one. Not all funeral homes are equipped to handle morbidly obese decedents. Your loved one deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, so you need to find a funeral home capable of handling larger decedents.

These funeral homes typically have larger tables, transport vehicles, and more powerful hoists to help safely prepare your loved one for his or her funeral. If your loved one wants to be cremated, you will need to partner with a funeral home whose crematorium is large enough to accommodate your loved one's size at the time of his or her death.

2. Invest in a custom casket.

The casket that your loved one will be placed in after embalming should be comfortable and stylish. You want your loved one's final resting place to be one of peace and tranquility, and having the right casket can accomplish this task.

The morbidly obese often require custom caskets to accommodate your size. Be sure that you are familiar with your loved one's weight and height to find the custom casket best suited to house his or her body during a viewing, funeral, and burial.

3. Ask about multiple burial plots.

Even if you know that you need a funeral home capable of handling larger decedents and a custom casket for your obese loved one, you might not think about the need to purchase additional burial plots in the cemetery of your choosing.

Standard burial plots measure two and a half feet in width and eight feet in length. This amount of space might not be enough for a morbidly obese loved one. Your funeral home director can help you determine if larger burial plots are available within the cemetery.

If only standard plots are open, you can purchase adjoining plots to ensure that your loved one's casket will fit comfortably into his or her final resting place.

Contact a funeral home such as Ryan-Parke Funeral Home for more information on planning a funeral.