Sowetan

World’s heaviest woman loses 100kg

BARIATRIC SURGERY SUCCESSFUL

- AFP. AFP

MUMBAI – Indian doctors said yesterday that an Egyptian who is believed to be the world’s heaviest woman had successful­ly undergone weight-loss surgery after losing over 100kg.

Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, who previously weighed around 500 kilos, had not left her house in Egypt in over two decades until arriving in Mumbai last month for Bariatric surgery.

“We are happy to inform all wellwisher­s that the medical team of Saifee Hospital has successful­ly performed the surgery on Eman Ahmed,” said a statement.

“Eman successful­ly underwent a Laparoscop­ic Sleeve Gastrectom­y on March 7 2017 at Saifee Hospital. She had an uneventful surgery and anaesthesi­a course.

“She is now on oral fluids and accepting them well. The future course of action for the medical team working on her will be to correct all her associated medical problems, and get her fit enough to fly back to Egypt as soon as possible,” it added.

A spokeswoma­n for Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who is leading Abd El Aty’s treatment, said the 37-yearold Egyptian’s weight had been brought under 400kg since she arrived in Mumbai in early February.

“Eman has lost over 100 kilograms and has been shedding weight gradually on a daily basis with all the treatment and support,” she told

The Egyptian is still believed to be the world’s heaviest woman ahead of American Pauline Potter who the Guinness Book of World Records recorded at 293 kilos in July last year.

Abd El Aty, who is from the Mediterran­ean port city of Alexandria, was flown to India’s commercial capital in a specially modified Airbus on Saturday February 11 for treatment.

Her sister had approached Lakdawala, a specialist weight-loss surgeon, in October, saying Abd El Aty needed urgent medical attention.

Abd El Aty has suffered a stroke and faced a series of other serious ailments owing to her weight including diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertensi­on and sleep deprivatio­n.

Her request for an Indian visa was initially denied, but she was granted passage after tweeting a plea for help directly to India’s foreign minister, who intervened.

Abd El Aty had a long wait as no airlines were willing to fly her due to her health complicati­ons.

Lakdawala’s team put her on a special liquid diet when she arrived in India to get her weight down to a low enough level for them to be able to operate. They say she is now able to sit up and is expected to spend several months being monitored and receiving physiother­apy to exercise her muscles before returning to Egypt.

“The 500kg Eman had not left her house in Egypt in over two decades

 ?? PHOTO: AFP ?? Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty from Egypt rests in bed at Saifee Hospital in Mumbai ahead of a Bariatric operation, a stomach-shrinking bypass procedure.
PHOTO: AFP Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty from Egypt rests in bed at Saifee Hospital in Mumbai ahead of a Bariatric operation, a stomach-shrinking bypass procedure.

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