'Heaviest' Briton sheds record weight in India!

By Quaid Najmi Pune, March 4 (IANS): A 31-year old Briton, who was the country's heaviest person three years ago, has shed a whopping 170 kg from 310 kg after undergoing bariatric surgery at a hospital in India and should stabilise at 110 kg, his proud medico said.

"Last week, Zachari Smith reported a 170 kg loss - which is perhaps the highest drop in weight for any patient in the UK and all of Asia. His Body-Mass Index (BMI) is still high but that's compensated by his good health," a beaming Shashank Shah, bariatric surgeon at the Ruby Hall Clinic here, told IANS.

But, barely three-and-a-half years ago, life had become a full-stop for Smith.

Shunned and discarded by all hospitals in Britain and Europe, Smith was reduced to a recluse in his Wales home with no company, no friends and no girlfriends, with only his steadily increasing body all around him, said Shah.

"He was alarmed when as aged around 17, he suddenly started gaining weight and in 10 years climbed to a dizzying 310 kg on the weighing scale," Shah said.

His desperate family tried all sorts of treatment in Britain and in Europe, but owing to the high risks involved in dealing with a person of his obesity, most slammed their doors on Smith.

After repeated internet searches for a cure, Smith learnt of the treatment at the Ruby Hall Clinic and finally spoke with Shah who said: "No problem. We can definitely treat you."

These were the words Smith was craving to hear more than anything else - and despite financial challenges, he decided to travel to Pune in western India. After all, 10 years ago, Shah pioneered the "sleeve gastrectomy" in India and more than 40 patients weighing over 200 kg have already undergone this safely without any post-surgical complaints.

While Smith's problems were on way to ending, the hospital's problems had just begun for the mega-operation in Novemebr 2010 which finally cost around Rs.400,000 ($8,000).

"He travelled business class to Mumbai since it had wider seats. We sent a special vehicle which could take his load and safely bring him to Pune," Shah said.

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'Heaviest' Briton sheds record weight in India!