Last night my housemates and I watched ‘Britain’s Fattest Man’ whereby Paul Mason had been bed bound for three years due to obesity when he then wanted help getting back on his feet. He was due to have a gastric band and a bypass, however the procedure was put on hold because the hospital had to ensure the structure of the building could hold his weight, estimated at between 60 and 70 stone.
During the programme, Paul explained that his excessive eating began when his girlfriend left him, he lost his job and his father died. He had carers come to his home for 12 hours a day, cooking him three meals a day, cleaning the house and helping with anything he could no longer do himself. He kept stating that the situation he was in was his fault, which also led to him losing touch with friends and family. The only person he would talk to on a daily basis was his carer.
When the consultant was explaining the operation to Paul he was told there was a 50% chance he will pull through afterwards, to which I could not imagine not having friends or family support.
He was beginning to stand again and was able to get out of the house but everything he has changed in his life he has done alone. It’s upsetting to think it had to get to that stage before he wanted to help himself.
I do find it hard to think that food takes over when people are most upset, I know it’s easier said than done but people should try and seek help before it’s too late for them to have their lives back.
Just a few stats:
- Half of all adults in the UK are overweight.
- One in five adults are obese, compared with one in ten French people.
- 74% of overweight people would like to lose weight.
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