Large Heart Fails 750-Pound Man

John Keitz was 39 and weighed over 300 kilos. He was housebound and bedridden. Recently, he had been moved to a nursing facility for better care and to start a physical therapy program. Sadly, for John and his family, he passed away this week.


From the story he seemed optimistic, gregarious and well liked in his community. So why publish a story that makes him an anomoly? These news reports are cautionary tales, but focus on the extreme and extraordinary. At over 750 pounds, of course it will difficult to for him to lose weight. It will take longer, but be just as hard for others who are mobidly obese, whether that be 80 kilos or 250 kilos. There is no doubt he was unhealthy and his weight was affecting his quality of life, but there are many in the same medicla category who can operate quite effctively despite their obesity.

Rather than focus on the "extraordinaary" tales of obesity, mayeb the media should focus on the "ordinary" tales of size.