Half-Ton Man Ventures Out After Five Years

Associated Press ^

[DeerfieldObserver]

Manuel Uribe, who once weighed half a ton, left his house on Wednesday for the first time in five years.

Six people pushed Uribe's wheel-equipped iron bed out to the street, as a mariachi band played and a crowd gathered to see the man who once weighed 1,235 pounds.

"It's nice [being outside]. Many thanks to my travelling Mariachis," Uribe said after taking a sip from a champagne bottle.

Unable to leave his bed for more than five years, Uribe has lost 397 pounds since he began a high-protein diet a year ago. He now weighs about 840 pounds.

To celebrate the milestone, a forklift lifted Uribe's bed onto a trailer pulled by a pickup truck and the 41-year-old mechanic rode through the streets of San Nicolas de los Garza, a Monterrey suburb.

"I'm very proud of him and very happy. I hope God continues to give him the strength to move forward," Uribe's neighbour, Leonor Garza said.

Uribe was a chubby kid, weighing more than 250 pounds as an adolescent.

In 1992, he said his weight began to balloon further.

Since the summer of 2002, Uribe has been bedridden, relying on his mother and friends to feed and clean him.

He drew worldwide attention when he pleaded for help on national television in January 2006.

Afterwards, an Italian and a Spanish doctor both visited and offered him gastric bypass surgery.

But Uribe chose to accept help from Mexican nutritionists working with the Zone diet which he says he will stick to until he reaches his goal weight of 265 pounds.

Doctors say it may take between three and four years for Uribe to reach his goal.

Uribe said he plans to start a foundation to help overweight people get medical assistance and teach them about healthy eating habits.

[MamaB]

Those girls are better adjusted than most girls who do not have any problems. They are amazing at how coordinated they are. They play volley ball, etc.

[Fierce Allegiance]

You would have to be a really really really close friend to clean him up.

[Fierce Allegiance]

i do believe that is one of the more disturbing pix i have ever seen.

You must not have google! LOL, you lead a very sheltered life!

[Fierce Allegiance]

It took me a minute to phrase the comment so as not to anger the Gods.

[Frank_2001]

"i do believe that is one of the more disturbing pix i have ever seen."

May it never become as popular on FR as that Helen Thomas picture! (which one? ANY one!;)

[tutstar]

ohhhhhhhh.....

that's bad!

[CedarDave]

Teenager picture:

Although they are two completely separate people, these accomplished teens share a body and have just two arms and legs between them.

Born in 1990, the girls have been brought up in a small, tightly knit community in Minnesota, almost completely protected from prying eyes and inquisitive stares. To their friends and family, they are distinct people with very different personalities, needs, tastes and desires. But to the outside world they are a medical mystery – particularly given the fact that they can do virtually all the same things as their friends, including playing the piano, riding a bike, swimming and playing softball “Their personalities make them inspirational,” says their mother Patty. “They never give up; anything they want to do, they go out and do it.”

The Twins Who Share A Body

[tutstar]

ping a ling...

[Night Hides Not]

It took me a minute to phrase the comment so as not to anger the Gods.

God forgive me, but the thought running through my mind is:

"Yo quiero Taco Bell!"

[isom35]

I'm guessing bathtub or bedpan

[Jason_b]

"It's hard to believe that the human body can sustain that much weight."

It's hard to believe that the floor can sustain that much weight. That mattress must be cryin.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Good for him! I hope he can continue to lose weight, and help others.

[BigLittle]

[antiRepublicrat]

To die due to sloth and gluttony is so sad.

[Beagle8U]

"Although they are two completely separate people, these accomplished teens share a body and have just two arms and legs between them."

Hardly two completely separate people.

[CedarDave]

I watched that last night.

Did a quick search. "Joined For Life: Abby and Brittany Turn 16" will be repeated on The Learning Channel on Sunday evening, March 25.

[miliantnutcase]

Did you see the 30,000 calorie a day diet show? There were people near this guy's size that had to eat, and eat all day just maintain their size. It was an addiction to them. I think the family members who condone this sort of thing and feed these people should be held just has responsible.

[sneakers]

"Indeed. Usually, being too fat to get up and find food for yourself is a very effective limit on weight gain. Unless undermined by enabling "loved ones."

I believe that's true. My cousin died last year at about 400+ lbs, at the age of 59. Of diabetes. She couldn't get out of bed. Her husband did everything. He was a dear, loving man. However, he fed her anything she wanted. She spent time in a nursing home and got 100 lbs off but put them back on when she got home. Very, very sad.

[xsmommy]

i don't go searching for things to gross myself out with!

[restornu]

I pray that Manuel Uribe receives a lot of love and charity from those who love the Lord, to say positive things so Manuel Uribe has something to hang on to, when those day are low! amen