World's fattest man loses over 500 pounds

by Adams Briscoe (Subscribe to Adams Briscoe's posts)
Feb 13th 2008 3:00PM

The guy who is labeled as the World's Fattest Man by the Guinness Book of Records has a reason to throw a big party. In fact, that's exactly what he told reporters his plans were going to be after having lost over 500 pounds. Manuel lives in Mexico with his mom and fiancee, but doctors from all over have been helping him slim down for the past two years.

His doctors from the United States, Italy and his home country are saying he's healthier now than he's been before. No surprise there; he originally weighed 1,257 pounds. His goal is to get that weight down to less than 300, and having dropped nearly half of his original mass, I think he's well on his way. How did he do it? The old fashioned way, of course: through diet and exercise.

He still faces quite a task to get there. Next month, Manuel is going to be lifted out of his house and driven around in a truck -- something that probably wasn't possible before losing so many pounds. It's encouraging to see positive stories like this hitting the headlines. Here's hoping we see more of them!

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Comments (76)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Neo 2-14-2008 @ 7:03AM

It is good to see he is taking steps to correct his horrendous weight but what were these people doing feeding him like that. If a person gets so fat that they can't get out of bed, cut back. This guy is still so fat that he has to be lifted mechanically. I can't imagine any one so huge.

racefan247365 2-14-2008 @ 8:18AM

I agree. I also agree with Shirley and regularguy1985. This is absurd not only for him but others who are huge. Who keeps feeding him? How does he shower and other things? Drive him around? Why! Where are the carrot sticks and celery? The caregivers should be arrested.

Meg 2-14-2008 @ 11:01AM

Most of the time it's more than just "they're eating too much". It could be all sorts of reasons. eating wrong b/ they don't know what is good for them. Stress (I've seen that add 400lbs on a person), Something wrong medically. rarely is it just because they eat too much.

Teri 2-14-2008 @ 7:10AM

Way to go, Manuel! You should be very proud of yourself. I am happy for you. : )

Kim 2-14-2008 @ 7:18AM

Great job dude, Keep up the good work. Please tell me your secret, I'm in the same boat. SOS Ailport1@aol.com

kaskel 2-14-2008 @ 7:22AM

I am very proud of him for doing it the right way, the hard way, rather than getting bariatric surgery. He is learning to take control of his health and make better choices rather than taking the easy way out and not learning a thing. Good for him and I wish him all the best!

Tammy 2-14-2008 @ 10:48AM

I had the lapband surgery to help me lose weight. I had several medical issues that pushed me toward the drastic measure of lapband after several failed attempts to lose weight - I would lose it but gain it back in a couple of months plus some. I can tell you from experience that the gastric bypass surgery is not "the easy way out". It has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I do wish I could have done it on my own but I was smart enough to see what it was doing to my health and took the necessary measures to do something about it. Obesity is not something that someone strives for. It seems like I woke up one day and weighed almost 300 lbs. I did what I had to for me and yes I paid for it out of my own pocket.

Lisa 2-14-2008 @ 7:23AM

So very very proud of you Manuel. Don't give up no matter what comes your way. Focus on possitive things and ignore the bad ones. You have done so FANTASTIC!!!!

Shorty 2-14-2008 @ 7:48AM

There was a special on TLC awhile back about this guy. And in that special they DID drive him around in a truck at the end.

AARDVARK2 2-14-2008 @ 7:57AM

HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING HIM FOR ALL THOSE DR.S ?? I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT TOO COULD I GET IT FOR FREE AS ON T.V. ?? BIGGEST LOSER ? NOT ME .

tom 2-14-2008 @ 7:54AM

great job manuel, you should be proud of yourself

shirley 2-14-2008 @ 8:09AM

I've seen that show on TLC a couple of time's.
seeing as he eats as much in one day as I eat in one week,I wonder how his Mother can afford such huge
grocery bills week after week!!!

erica lolol 2-15-2008 @ 12:09AM

i AGREE IF HE IS TOO FAT TO GET UP AND STUFF HIS FACE THEN IT'S HIS RELATIVES THAT ARE TO BLAME. I AM SURE HE PRESSURED THEM THOU. I saw one show the guy didn't just have a two liter of pop by his bed it was a 3 liter of faygo for one days drink?. i'm fat by the way 280 l b size 18 though because i work out. i look pretty good and feel great. my mom over fed us as a child and i became a mild food addict while pregnant and have trouble losing the weight. i wish my husband would have taken the edis ice cream from me when i was pregnant when he saw my weight climb from 165 to 230! I know i contributed to it but we need people in our life that stand up and do intervention when needed! don't bring junk food around fatties we want to eat it . out of sight out of mind a lot of times. i wish they would ban food commmercials like Nestle's chocolate bars that make u remember how good they are. I wish this man luck, glad i got my fat ass to the gym and thank my friend kathy for saying. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

regularguy1985 2-14-2008 @ 8:09AM

yeah theres something to be proud of ha ha ha lose 4 or 5 peoples worth of weight and still outweigh 6 or 7 people. Its pathetic to think how someone could even reach that point. Its absurd and sad and horrendous and disgusting that anyone would let themselves go like that. why would you wait to weigh half a metric ton to lose weight. Pure genius ha ha ha .

elaine 2-14-2008 @ 9:54AM

OK, one thing you have to realize is that if he had to be lifted to get somewhere, how on earth do you think he got to the kitchen? His family fed him. They give food that he eats because that is what he became accustomed to eating. It may have been his fault for gaining too much weight to begin with, however, whoever was feeding him for so many years is to blame. I'm glad he is finally making a change though, it's got to be difficult to lose so much weight like that. When the body is used to eating a certain amount, it has to have that much or more to feel full. Just like when you don't eat for a while, your stomach shrinks and less food will make you feel full. (Not generally anorexia here, just something that happens to the body.) Who knows, maybe the guy got sick of hearing about how people think he was nasty and everything and instead of retreating and hiding, he decided to make a change for the better. I mean, he's getting married! I think that may have been a motivator as well to lose weight too. So, instead of being mean, why not have any words of encouragement; he just may get wind of this and it could help him!

efess 2-14-2008 @ 10:36AM

You are not a "regular guy". You are an insensitive creep and a moron. Do us all a favor - sit home and watch Jerry Springer - turn your computer off.

rod schwartz 2-14-2008 @ 11:36AM

regularguy1985, you are a very insensititive horses ass.
You are a waste of space. If something bad ever happens to you I hope people have more compassion for you than you have for other people.

Linda 2-14-2008 @ 8:15AM

its great that he's lost all this weight and everything whether thrugh surgery or whatever. my question is: if e couldn't get out of bed, how did he exercise?