The world’s heaviest man is set to go under the knife for the second time in a bid to save his life – after shedding a staggering 35 stone. Juan Pedro Franco was officially named the heaviest man on Earth in December 2016, weighing in at a huge 1312 lbs, or 93st 10lbs.
In 2017, the 33-year-old, from Guadalajara, Mexico, underwent life-changing surgery to remove 75 percent of his stomach. Since then, he has been living on a strict diet and has lost an impressive 496lbs – but his weight is still putting him at extreme risk of cardiac arrest.
This means he needed further surgery.
Juan said: “The most important thing for me is to walk again. “I haven’t left the house for six years or even walked anywhere.”
Growing up, Juan was always overweight but a bus accident in his late teens left him in a coma and bed bound.
He said: “I broke half my body. I broke all of my right side ribs, leg, everything.”
Over the last couple of years, Juan’s weight-loss progress has been monitored by bariatric surgeon, Dr Jose Castaneda Cruz. He also carried out both surgeries.
Juan’s second operation reduced his stomach even further, to create a pouch smaller than an egg. The pouch will bypass his lower stomach and connect to his small intestines. The surgery was life-threatening, but the former world’s heaviest man had no choice.
The journey to the hospital was the first time the keen baker had left the house in six months. Juan’s specially strengthened bed had to be dismantled and set up again for him in hospital, as he was too heavy for a normal bed.
The invasive surgery only took an hour and Juan recovered well. He is now on a strict diet and exercise regime to lose a further 440 lbs in 18 months. In six months, Juan lost 167 lbs and now weights under 660 lbs or 47 stone – almost half his original weight.
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