The World Fatest Man

Manual Uribe Garza

Manuel Uribe Garza, 41, of Monterrey, thought to be the world's fattest man, could soon undergo weight-loss surgery in Italy, according to a report from the Italian news service Ansa.

A mechanic from northern Mexico (state of Nuevo León), Garza has weighed as much as 561 Kilograms (1,235 pounds) but recently lost weight with the help of doctors.

Italian surgeon Giancarlo DeBernardinis told Agence France-Presse, "We will hold a meeting in the coming days to work out the details of the hospitalization and to prepare the operating theater and the appropriate surgical tools."

Uribe drew worldwide attention when he appeared on the Televisa television network in January and drew the attention of doctor Giancarlo De Bernardinis, who visited Mexico with a medical team to examine Uribe in March.

The operation would last four to five hours and would likely require Uribe to spend one month in Italy. “He will always be heavier than normal but certainly not like he is now ... We would be satisfied even if he weighed 330 lbs. after two years,” Bernardinis said.

For the past five years, Uribe has been bedridden. He keeps a television and a computer he uses to update his Web site near his iron bed.

His one connection to the outside world is his computer, and he regularly surfs the Internet.

Since his wife left him, unable to cope with the burden, Manuel has lived at home with his mother and sent out endless pleas for help in his home country. His plight has even touched sympathisers in this country.


"People think that I can eat a whole cow, but it's not just overeating, it's also a hormonal problem, I can’t walk. I can’t leave my bed and I’m trying to reduce my weight a bit right now so I can be in the right condition for the operation.” Uribe said