The former world's fattest man to sue health service for his weight gain

It's not my fault, the NHS should have helped: The former world's fattest man to sue health service for his weight gain

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:17 PM on 7th January 2011

A man who once weighed nearly 70 stone is to launch legal action against the NHS, claiming they failed to help him as his size soared.

Former postman Paul Mason received life-saving gastric surgery last year binge-eating his way to gargantuan size.

But the 50-year-old, who now weighs in at a comparatively small 37 stone, said he should have been helped years ago.

Fattest man: Paul Mason received a vital operation after ballooning to nearly 70 stone but plans to sue the NHS for ignoring his pleas for help

Mr Mason, who was eating 20,000 calories a day at his heaviest, claims he sought help from his GP after ballooning to 30 stone.

Instead of receiving a treatment programme to manage his weight, he has complained he was told in 1996: 'Ride your bike more.'

 

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He also says he was sent to a dietician, rather than the eating disorders specialist he had asked to see, after his weight hit 64 stone.

'I want to set a precedent so no one else has to get to the same size - and to put something back into society,' Mr Mason told The Sun.

Binging: Paul Mason was eating 20,000 calories a day at his heaviest

Life-saving op: Paul Mason is lifted into place ahead of the surgery that helped him lose 20 stone in a year

He has pledged to put any compensation he receives if successful towards helping other obese people lose weight.

An NHS spokesman said of the purported lawsuit: 'As we have not heard from Mr Mason, it would be inappropriate to speculate.'

Mr Mason's care bill costs taxpayers an estimated £100,000 a year and is believed to have topped £1million over the past 15 years.

At the height of his binge eating, he was consuming 20,000 calories every day - ten times the recommended daily intake for a man.

Increased mobility: Paul Mason now uses a motorised wheelchair to get around after surgery helped him shed 20 stone

Though he has vowed to help other people in need of weight loss operations, the cost of Mr Mason's condition will have enraged patients on NHS waiting lists, commentators said this week.

'It’s such a shame that so much time and resources have to go to help one person, these nurses will be sorely missed at a time when public finances are squeezed,' said Charlotte Linacre, Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

'Although there is sympathy for people struggling with health issues, taxpayers will not feel this is a fair allocation of funds as they sit on waiting lists while footing the bill for his personal care.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344930/Former-worlds-fattest-man-Paul-Mason-sue-NHS-weight-gain.html#ixzz1AMsaPz88