The world’s former fattest man has ballooned in size again after eating lots of chips during the pandemic.
60-year-old Paul Mason used to weigh 70st (444kg) before he managed to turn his life around and dropped to only 19st (120kg).
But after he returned to the UK, he has gained weight again to 39st (247kg).
Mason said he has lost most of his mobility because of chronic arthritis. The 60-year-old now spends most of his time in a riser recliner.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said the situation overwhelmed him and that he took an overdose to deal with his depression six months ago.
“Nobody was listening, nothing was happening, I could see myself slipping back into the bad old days so it was a cry for help,” he expressed.
In 2019, he told The Mirror that he was in ‘the last chance saloon’ after being in and out of the hospital.
At that time, he said that he needed a hip and multiple hernia operations and two new knees but none have happened because of the pandemic.
“Crisps because that’s always been my go to snack. I use them to keep the edge off because I’m in terrible pain through the arthritis and I have a doctor who will not give me any proper pain relief. She said I’ve just got to live with it,” he said.
“On top of that I wasn’t getting the minerals I needed due to my gastric bypass needing to be altered and that made by depression worse which led to me becoming very unhappy,” Mason continued.
“Of course I’m disappointed I have put weight back on but considering how tough things have been for everyone I don’t think I can let it get me down too much because depression is what led me here in the first place.
“I have just got to focus on recovery and the future and I have realised I can do that through therapy. If I could tell anyone how to fight this I would say a lot of it is in the mind.”
Mason got engaged in 2014 after meeting American Rebecca Mountain on social media. The couple moved to the USA but things immediately fell apart and he returned to the UK alone.
Now living in taxpayer-funded sheltered housing in Plymouth, Mason said his lowest moment during the pandemic was being lifted out of his apartment in a sling by paramedics as the lift was broken.
“It just feels like I have been left in limbo, I know it is the same for a lot of other people, but I don’t want to lie here and be disappointed I want to get on with things and try and be positive about the future,” he said.
“I hate living the way I am but I am hoping things get better in the new year when I can get access to more treatment,” Mason added.
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