WITH worldwide adult obesity having more than doubled since 1990, it’s a global issue that’s hard to ignore.
Although there are thousands of people showing off their new bodies after using fat jabs, what life is really like when you’re carrying extra weight around?
Jonathan appeared on y 6OOlb Life after he topped the scales 630lbs[/caption]
His wife Tzena said that it felt like they were ‘wasting’ their life[/caption]
His toxic relationship with food sees him consume 10,000 calories a day[/caption]
One programme that explores this is My 600lbs Life, where overweight Americans share their arduous journey in hopes to become healthier and fitter versions of themselves.
Amongst them is also Jonathan Colp, 36, whose battle with weight means he no longer can share the same bed with his wife, Tzena, a nurse.
The couple met when Jonathan was an Emergency Medical Technician near his home in Illinois.
The pair started talking – and soon they began dating, Tzena told on the show.
”I mean, he was a big guy – but he was still able to go everywhere.”
It didn’t take long for the couple to realise they wanted to be together for the rest of their life – and two years after meeting for the first time, they tied the knot.
But fast-forward a few years, and the 36-year-old has ballooned up to a staggering 630lbs, with a BMI of nearly 90, according to Parade.
The excess weight he’s carrying means that Jonathan was unable to work, rarely leaves the house and has to sleep in a recliner rather next to his wife, due to the amount of weight that presses down on his chest.
”I’m getting closer to my whole life being confined because of my weight,” he bravely admitted.
Being severely overweight also means that Jonathan is in constant pain, he has to sleep with a breathing machine and is physically unable to stand for long periods of time, as it’s too much pressure on his knees and hips.
Despite the extra weight, he still washes himself – because he wants to keep his dignity and feels like there are some thing Tzena shouldn’t have to deal with.
As Jonathan is not fit enough to work, his wide has to work full-time to support them both – and he regularly talks about the many he things he should be able to do as a husband but simply cannot.
Jonathan explained he is addicted to food – but wants to overcome this and work towards a life he wants to live, which includes starting a family with Tzena.
The 36-year-old said that his severe addiction to food started in childhood.
”There’s been times where we were so much out of food that we’d have, like, popcorn for dinner.
”And my mum would always say you need to make sure you eat everything – because she didn’t want me to go hungry.”
Later on, when Jonathan’s family had more money, his mother would treat him to the fatty, deep-fried dishes he enjoyed.
In the show, Jonathan also talked about his father’s struggles with being an alcoholic – and how his hurtful words would only make him turn to food even more.
By the time Jonathan was in high school, his weight had reached a whopping 28st, which made him feel worthless.
But while his personal life with Tzena seemed to be going well, his weight and health were struggling – and this was made even worse when both of his parents died in quick succession.
Food once again became a comfort thing.
”It makes me sad for him to not be able to do what he wants to do, which is have a life. It’s, you know, having kids, going on vacation,” Tzena admitted, with tears in her eyes.
”I feel like we’re wasting our lives.”
‘I feel really proud of what I’ve done’
After feeling like a ”disgusting human being” for so long, Jonathan decided it was time to change something – and hopefully, turn his life around.
The episode saw the couple head to meet Dr Nowzaradan, a renowned bariatric surgeon.
Having been consuming an astronomical 10,000 calories on a daily basis, the 36-year-old was given a list of exercises he has to complete every morning and evening, as well as slashing his food intake to just 1,200 calories a day.
Jonathan – who was told have no bad foods – was given a couple of months to shed enough weight to be approved for bariatric surgery.
During his first check-up, Jonathan admitted having one cheat day where he ate pizza – and claimed to have been so sick the following day, he instantly regretted it.
Despite this, the hard work slowly began to pay off.
”I feel really proud of what I’ve done in the first two months,” he said.
But in case the weight loss starts to slow down – or stop altogether – the expert warned Jonathan will need to have therapy to deal with his complex relationship with food.
To have the operation performed, Jonathan also moved to Texas on his own – as Tzena needs a licence to be able to work in a different state.
But as he continues to slim down, there are glimpses of hope – but will he manage it?
Tune in to watch tomorrow’s episode of My 600lb Life on Really at 9pm.
