Former Guinness World Record holder for heaviest person passes away

It has been announced that Mexican national Juan Pedro Franco, who left his mark on an era and entered the Guinness World Records as the "world's heaviest person," has passed away. Franco, who set the record in 2017 by reaching approximately 600 kilograms, died in the hospital where he was being treated for a kidney infection. Franco's death was announced by his doctor, Jose Antonio Castaneda. Castaneda stated that his patient's health had deteriorated significantly in recent days and that he passed away on December 24 in Aguascalientes.

Franco, who was bedridden and required the assistance of about eight people to move, was unable to meet his basic needs alone due to his weight issues. Describing his experience during that period, Franco had said, "My body was just following its own path. No matter what I did, I couldn't control it. I tried dieting for days, but nothing worked, and I fell into despair."

In 2017, Franco changed his outlook on life and began a strict diet program and a series of surgeries under the supervision of Dr. Castaneda. He first underwent a gastric sleeve operation, followed by gastric bypass surgery. As a result of these treatments, Franco lost nearly half of his initial weight. By 2019, he had shed one-third of his body weight, and by 2023, he had lost a total of over 330 kilograms, bringing his weight down to 260 kilograms.

In an interview after losing weight, the Mexican star said, "Being able to lift your arms, get up on your own to get a glass of water, or go to the bathroom makes you feel incredibly good. It is a wonderful feeling to be more independent."

Having battled serious health issues over the years, including type 2 diabetes, thyroid imbalance, high blood pressure, and fluid accumulation in his lungs, Franco had begun gaining weight in childhood, reaching 65 kilograms at age six and exceeding 230 kilograms by age 17. Despite all these challenges, his medical team noted that thanks to the weight he lost, his mobility had increased and the risks of some diseases had decreased.

In 2020, Franco also survived COVID-19, despite being in a high-risk group.

News Source: 12punto