It has been just over nine years since Andres Moreno, once dubbed the world's fattest man at a staggering 70 stone, passed away at the age of 38.
Moreno had undergone a stomach bypass and was on the road to recovery when he suffered a fatal heart attack, believed to be triggered by his excessive consumption of energy drinks.
Dr. Jorge Ojeda commented on the Mexican's death, saying: "As an obese man, although he was losing weight and was starting to move, exposing yourself to a stimulant can cause an irregular heartbeat, and that or a heart attack can lead to death.
"He drank more than six energy drinks a day according to his family and we believe it could be a lot more than six."
During National Obesity Awareness Week, we reflect on Moreno's remarkable life story. Born at a hefty 13 pounds, he reached 18-and-a-half stone by age 10.
Despite his size, he aspired to be a police officer and married young. However, after turning 20, his life began to spiral downwards.
Moreno recalled the painful period, saying: "I lost my wife, who I lived with for three years and left me because I was fat."
He described his struggle with weight gain as unstoppable, adding: "I realised I was putting on more and more weight and getting bigger but it was like a snowball I couldn't stop. Friends and family would visit me and when they went I was left alone crying and sad because of my situation and begging God to put me back on the right path.
"I hit rock bottom when I couldn't get out of bed and go to the toilet or wash myself."
Moreno, who was newly single and unable to work due to his weight, saw his weight soar to an astonishing 70st, leading to him becoming bedridden. His condition caught the attention of media outlets around the globe, and with concerns about a premature death looming, he decided to undergo stomach bypass surgery in hopes of losing weight.
Before the operation, he received an unexpected morale boost from then Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who sent him a signed shirt. He expressed his gratitude, saying: "Many thanks to everyone, including Cristiano Ronaldo, for taking an interest in my case. Sometimes you think they are in another world, far from ordinary people, but that's not true.
"I feel like I've been given a wonderful Christmas present before it was time." Additionally, Mexican football club Chivas Guadalajara sent him a supportive video message prior to his surgery.
After shedding 19 stone through natural means, Moreno weighed 50st. It took seven people to lift him onto a reinforced stretcher for his surgery.
With aspirations of finding a wife, starting a family, and setting up a foundation for obese individuals, Moreno said: "I want to show them that no matter how large they are, there is hope."
Post-surgery, at the Mexico Gastric Bypass unit in Arboledas Hospital, approximately 70% of his stomach was removed, and he soon regained the ability to wash himself. However, tragedy struck two weeks later when Moreno passed away on Christmas Day 2015 in an ambulance following a heart attack.
His publicist confirmed the harrowing details: "Andres died at 8.30am on Christmas Day in an ambulance from a heart attack as he was taken from his house to San Jose Hospital. We are dismayed by the news."
Subsequent reports revealed that Moreno had been excessively consuming energy drinks, equating his intake to someone with no health problems guzzling down the equivalent of 42 cans of Coke in a matter of 72 hours. Local sources claimed he turned to energy drinks amid personal life stresses.
Noted nutritionist Edward Mathew advised against such consumption, specifically for those exceeding their personal caffeine tolerance, stating it could cause "gastrointestinal distress, jitters and restlessness".
Annabel Gipp, a specialist paediatric eating disorder dietitian, added: "The mounting body of evidence demonstrates that the consumption of energy drinks is detrimental to both the physical and mental wellbeing of young people, as well as encouraging other risky behaviours such as alcohol use."
Meanwhile, the NHS voiced its stance that energy drinks, due to their high levels of caffeine, sugar, and acidity are improper for anyone under 16.
It also listed the following potential side effects:
- Increase heart rate and blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Hyperactivity
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Fainting
- Substance dependence
- Obesity
- Poor dental health
