Gulf Daily News

Bahrain, Sep 2: A 40-year-old Bahraini man, who weighed nearly 400 kilograms when he was admitted to the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) two weeks ago, is responding to treatment and has already shed 11kg, according to sources. "The man is now fitter than he was when we started treating him for morbid obesity last Sunday," said the source.

He said he is taking the treatment extremely well with the support of his wife and a few friends who visit him.

The source said the patient was aware that he needed to shed at least 200kg before he is fit enough to be operated upon, without any resultant complications or side effects.

"He is being fed on a staple of high-fibre food, mainly oats and vegetables (between 800 and 1,000 calories per day), to help him on his way," he said.

The man is being constantly monitored by a team of dieticians who decide what he has to eat and how much.

"The patient is extremely co-operative and we have no problems dealing with him," said the source.

He said the man earlier walked to the washroom with a lot of assistance and some difficulty, a task he is able to manage much better now, but has to still be assisted.

"He is exercising regularly as well and has been provided with a contraption on top of his bed to help him flex his arms," said the source.

The patient, who is perhaps one of the heaviest men alive, will ultimately require bariatric surgery to restrict his stomach size and lead to decreased absorption of nutrients.

He is now being accommodated in a specially designed room at the hospital where a 35-member team has been given a free hand to treat him, under instructions from Health Minister Dr Nada Haffadh.

The head of the medical team Dr Khalifa bin Dayna, declined to comment on the treatment.

However, he said "there is enough experience" among the team to treat him. "We have handled morbid obesity cases in the past and continue to do so," he said.

"However, with this patient, the challenge is greater due to his weight."

The hospital is now in the process of putting together an operating table and other facilities like weighing scales, computerised tomography (CT) scan and X-ray machines which can take care of the patient.

The mechanical engineer is married and has no children.

He has been without work since last year when he weighed in at 200kg.

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