How Very Sad.

I think it's legitimate to wonder how the circumstances outlined in the article come to pass but the piece doesn't address what support if any was available to the poor man. I would like to know more about the differences between normal obesity and super obesity as I remain to be convinced that the two are linked.

So, brushing it under the carpet and not examining it, is a healthy and considerate thing to do ? I think not.
I also think you are far too sensitive. Similar topics have been posted in this section before.
There is nothing insensitive about wishing for opinions on how people reach the point of super obesity. I was not critical, I was not judging, I was asking. To learn more. And also, my dear, this is not just for weight loss. It is for general diet. Since there is not a section for general weight related topics, this is where most things like the article I linked to, get posted.
But to save myself issues with people who think asking questions about the issue many here suffer from, is somehow awful and insensitive, I shall simply post the article and ask for insight.

The original text that you have deleted I thought was inconsiderate. I'm sure it wasn't intended and it didn't necessarily offend me, however I did feel that it could hurt others.

It is sad about that man who died. I didn't realise it was physically possible to reach that level of obesity. So young too!

I think i read somewhere or maybe it is just a urban legend that in the super obese the brain doesn't register that the person is full. I can see how easy it would be though. You gain 20 then another 20 and before you know it you feel akward and uncomfortable exercising and just doing physical things. A horrible thing =(

People become this way for the same reasons that one may drink, do drugs, or become obsessed with exercise and diet. It makes you feel good while you're doing it. Then afterwards guilt takes over, you become depressed, and you have to indulge again. It's a vicious circle.

Pretty much this.

I'll try to explain it in the most neutral way possible.

An addiction to food is a very real thing. In fact, binge eating disorder is officially in the DSM as of the printing of the DSM 5. Overeating, while not a recognized eating disorder, is, also, very real. From a psychological point, it makes sense. So much sense that... yes, it is sad. Very sad that he got this far. Very sad that someone could get this far without intervention. Sad that he wanted to lose the weight, but may not have had the motivation to do so. Depression is a very, very vicious circle. Eating disorders, in general, are. I am not justifying him over indulging himself. If you have a health problem, it is important to seek help before you get this far. What I am saying is simply that... it is hard to understand it unless you have been there yourself, you know?

An addiction to food starts out innocent enough. You eat an entire box of cookies in one sitting because you were depressed. Say, you lost your job or your wife or your dog... the cookies make you feel better while you're eating them. And although you are now feeling guilty because you finished a box of cookies that totals 1,200 calories... you forgot why you were originally sad, because now you're sad that you finished all your cookies. Being able to forget what made you that depressed feels good. So, the next time you're sad or depressed, you finish an entire bag of Doritos. Until you're doing this EVERY time you're sad or depressed. For the binge eater, they may not even realize they're doing it until it is too late. For the overeater, they definitely realize they're doing it. But it is a compulsion. They have trouble stopping. It is not simple ignorance of nutrition. That would be easy to fix. Educate, you know? But I have watched one of my family members suffer from this emotional over eating and it is hard to watch. Hard because I try to help her. Hard because I feel powerless in helping her. Hard because I used to do the same thing and I realize now that if I had continued, I'd be as big as she is getting.

And this all becomes a vicious circle. Often times, the emotional over eater does it because they have no one to comfort them when they're depressed. So, they turn to food. Food makes them gain weight. People are judgmental, naturally. So they start hearing people make fun of their weight. Which, in turn, makes them isolate themselves further. Which heightens depression, which makes them eat even more bags of Doritos and boxes of cookies. Sometimes, what they need is not someone lecturing them about weight and healthy eating habits. They know that eating an entire pack of Oreos is not healthy. Sometimes, what they need is someone to shwo them they'll be there for them. That's all I needed, anyway. Luckily, in my case, someone did before it got this far. So, I never got to 900 lbs.

I think i read somewhere or maybe it is just a urban legend that in the super obese the brain doesn't register that the person is full. I can see how easy it would be though. You gain 20 then another 20 and before you know it you feel akward and uncomfortable exercising and just doing physical things. A horrible thing =(

No, it's not an urban legend. You're correct but it doesn't seem that morbid obesity causes the receptor mutation so much as a person is born with the receptor mutation, which alters the person's perception of satiety.

"In summary, our results confirm that mutations in MC4-R are the most frequent genetic cause of common obesity described to date. The heterogeneity of obesity linked to MC4-R mutations clearly implies that functional assessment of MC4-R mutations will eventually routinely be required to evaluate the risk of obesity in MC4-R mutation carriers."

From the article at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC314306/

A reasonable person would never let it go that far. Put on 60 kg of weight while "trying to deal with the overweight problem" is just ridiculous. Im not even sorry for him. At this point, its pretty much evolution 101. Just give him Darwin award, thank him for removing himself from human genome and lets move forward as a species.

or move backwards as a species,because there's fossil evidence that even Homo erectus had compassion for weak and vulnerable members of their tribes

I watch 'my 600 lb life' it gives a crystal clear in sight. There is someone Enabling them to get that big.

This is true. At 600 pounds, a person can't walk on their own, probably need help using the bathroom, and certainly can't go to the grocery store. Someone else has to help a person to get this large. I've seen documentaries on this issue. I think that A&E show Intervention did an episode on compulsive over-eating.

I think there is a big difference between someone who is 300 pounds and 600 pounds, and it's not just the size. At 300 pounds, a relatively normal life is possible and an enabler is not necessary (although one may be present). At 600+, a normal life is not possible and an enabler must be present. That level of obesity seems suicidal to me. It is very sad.

I think it's legitimate to wonder how the circumstances outlined in the article come to pass but the piece doesn't address what support if any was available to the poor man. I would like to know more about the differences between normal obesity and super obesity as I remain to be convinced that the two are linked.

I do not think he got much in the way of support. It appears he simply became a recluse and disappeared off the radar once he did. That seems to be the basis for a lot of the comments on the article...where was his support and why are those who reach this point, not given the same sort of services as those with other eating disorders.

That's a very good point. You hear about anorexia and bulimia sufferers getting various forms of support and treatment both physical and psychological but I've never heard of obese or morbidly obese people getting that level of care on the NHS.

I think anorexia and bulimia are at least given the credence of being a disorder or disease whereas the morbidly obese are just treated as fat and lazy. This may not be the case but it certainly comes across that way. I have honestly never heard of an overweight person being offered counselling or treatment (just gastric band after a certain weight).

Honestly, I don't really understand how this can relate to Weight loss help. Many people on this part of the board is actually trying to become obtain an healthier lifestyle and get help for losing weight. Questioning how people can become overweight, let alone obese isn't a considerate thing to do.

I disagree actually. It was only when I addressed how I had let myself get to a BMI of 45 that I was able to do something about it. Perhaps sharing ideas on how people get that way could indeed help other people to recognise their own behaviours.

That's a very good point. You hear about anorexia and bulimia sufferers getting various forms of support and treatment both physical and psychological but I've never heard of obese or morbidly obese people getting that level of care on the NHS.

I think anorexia and bulimia are at least given the credence of being a disorder or disease whereas the morbidly obese are just treated as fat and lazy. This may not be the case but it certainly comes across that way. I have honestly never heard of an overweight person being offered counselling or treatment (just gastric band after a certain weight).

I agree. Whilst being obese isn't necessarily an eating disorder, binge eating which can lead to obesity certainly is. I should know. I had to find my own help and it is thanks to the help that I found that I am now going to be there for my children as they grow up.