980lb man needs livesaving operation

[alienlovechild 75]

His problem is part physical and part psychological.

But I rather think that 980lb people are in the minority, in Britain or anywhere else.

And he's got a lot of parts.

Sure the guy is circus freak hige but a sizable proportion of the public has a less extreme form of being fat but if the state assumes care shouldn't it do a better job? Regardless of the system or nation who feeds these behemoths?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

His problem is part physical and part psychological.

But I rather think that 980lb people are in the minority, in Britain or anywhere else.

And he's got a lot of parts.

Sure the guy is circus freak hige but a sizable proportion of the public has a less extreme form of being fat but if the state assumes care shouldn't it do a better job? Regardless of the system or nation who feeds these behemoths?

The State doesn't govern the behaviour of the individual.

They'd rather solve the problem before it reaches the extreme.

Yes - if you are obese there are subsidised weight loss programs you can participate in.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Doctors blame a British man's 20,000-calorie a day diet for causing him to balloon up to a whopping 980-pounds and leaving him in need of a life-saving operation.

Paul Mason, 48, needs a nearly $33,000 life-saving operation after a compulsive eating disorder left him "super-obese."

Mason scoffs three family-sized takeout meals a night and wolfs down roasts like snacks.

He has spent much of the past eight years in bed at his home in Ipswich in Suffolk, England.

His health care costs taxpayers an estimated $165,000 a year.

And now he needs drastic stomach surgery to curb his eating and keep him alive, which the country's National Health Services will have to foot the bill for.

Mason will travel in a 5-ton ambulance specially built for obese people at a cost of $148,000 to get the surgery.

Mason's girth may distinguish him as the world's fattest man. The previous world's fattest man, Manuel Uribe, once weighed an unbelievable 1,230 pounds, but has lost more than 500 pounds after following a specially designed, low-carb diet.

"This man is very ill and this is life-saving surgery," a National Health Services Suffolk spokesman said of Mason. "The nature of his illness is psychological and the NHS has a duty to help him. He is in a very fragile state and needs help. We are exploring all options for transporting him from his home to hospital but we have now ruled out an airlift."

"The most important aspect of transporting him is preserving his dignity and looking after his safety. We have not had anything like this before," the spokesoman added.

Susie Squire, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "While it is important to get this man the medical attention he needs, cost-effective methods must be used."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,568634...test=latestnews there's a link to photos this link

Things like food are more expensive in the UK than they are here so my question is : HOW THE HELL COULD HE AFFORD ALL THIS FRIGGIN' FOOD ?

Probably the same way smokers afford cigarettes. An addiction is an addiction. If someone craves something enough, they'll go out of their way to get it.

[alienlovechild 75]

The State doesn't govern the behaviour of the individual.

They'd rather solve the problem before it reaches the extreme.

Yes - if you are obese there are subsidised weight loss programs you can participate in.

The state subsidized the problem for 8 years accordiing to the article. I'm sure they'd like to use preventive treatment but it didn't work in Mason's case.

I understand the UK's weight loss program has a motto- "Away from the telly to lose your belly".

[Scott & Lai 12]

"The most important aspect of transporting him is preserving his dignity and looking after his safety.

I think that ship sailed long ago...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The State doesn't govern the behaviour of the individual.

They'd rather solve the problem before it reaches the extreme.

Yes - if you are obese there are subsidised weight loss programs you can participate in.

The state subsidized the problem for 8 years accordiing to the article. I'm sure they'd like to use preventive treatment but it didn't work in Mason's case.

I understand the UK's weight loss program has a motto- "Away from the telly to lose your belly".

So what's to be drawn from this?

[alienlovechild 75]

So what's to be drawn from this?

Either this country needs an NHS type system or others to emigrate to the promised land. The all-you-can-eat combined with $165,000 worth of free healthcare plan would lure millions of fat azz Americans.

In reality, things that are subsidized usually get consumed more. He should get the Clockwork Orange diet of movies making fattening food repulsive and use drugs like Antibus (?) to make one ill at the thought of eating too much. Naturally, people would have to sign a waiver which can't more use than a slow death with a massive bulk to support.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to send these folks to a poor country and live on the local diet and in the same portions?

[Peikko 1,575]

So what's to be drawn from this?

Either this country needs an NHS type system or others to emigrate to the promised land. The all-you-can-eat combined with $165,000 worth of free healthcare plan would lure millions of fat azz Americans.

In reality, things that are subsidized usually get consumed more. He should get the Clockwork Orange diet of movies making fattening food repulsive and use drugs like Antibus (?) to make one ill at the thought of eating too much. Naturally, people would have to sign a waiver which can't more use than a slow death with a massive bulk to support.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to send these folks to a poor country and live on the local diet and in the same portions?

You have a very, very poor grasp of how Universal health care in the UK functions Alien - not that I am surprised.

I am glad you have the answer to eating disorders of this kind though, I am sure there are a lot of people who are going to be extremely grateful to you for your insight into these types of problems Dr Alien.

[alienlovechild 75]

You have a very, very poor grasp of how Universal health care in the UK functions Alien - not that I am surprised.

I am glad you have the answer to eating disorders of this kind though, I am sure there are a lot of people who are going to be extremely grateful to you for your insight into these types of problems Dr Alien.

Well you are as enlightening as always. Even Hunt touched a few keys as a blurb explanation.

My answers haven't led to morbid obesity in anyone so I'm ahead of the NHS on that score. In fact, I'll bet Britons are more overweight now than before NHS.

[Peikko 1,575]

You have a very, very poor grasp of how Universal health care in the UK functions Alien - not that I am surprised.

I am glad you have the answer to eating disorders of this kind though, I am sure there are a lot of people who are going to be extremely grateful to you for your insight into these types of problems Dr Alien.

Well you are as enlightening as always. Even Hunt touched a few keys as a blurb explanation.

My answers haven't led to morbid obesity in anyone so I'm ahead of the NHS on that score. In fact, I'll bet Britons are more overweight now than before NHS.

Imagine that?  Of course, only countries with universal health care have obese people, that being the cause and effect.

[AlHayatZween 2]

... who pays for their food? How do they get the food to the beds?

This is what i have always wondered. i figure an "enabler" gets the food to their beds, or they order in...

but how can someone afford to eat that much...especially take out?!

[Peikko 1,575]

These are of course good questions. I don't have any first hand experience with this type of disorder.

[Amby 490]

In England they give you money for all sorts of things if you're on disability. I'm not surprised he has enough money to eat that much.

[AlHayatZween 2]

i just know that we are two (and a half) people right now, and we can afford take-out twice a week...

eat for dinner, then finish for lunch... that's 4 meals for the price of two. and that's it... we can't afford anything more than that right now...

i will never understand this dilemma... unless the "enablers" are also the financiers, which might be the case?

In England they give you money for all sorts of things if you're on disability. I'm not surprised he has enough money to eat that much.

Word? That much $$$?

[Amby 490]

i just know that we are two (and a half) people right now, and we can afford take-out twice a week...

eat for dinner, then finish for lunch... that's 4 meals for the price of two. and that's it... we can't afford anything more than that right now...

i will never understand this dilemma... unless the "enablers" are also the financiers, which might be the case?

In England they give you money for all sorts of things if you're on disability. I'm not surprised he has enough money to eat that much.

Word? That much $$$?

well let's just say I was shocked by some of the things people can get "benefits" for over there. I was like what??