The Fat Family
Tuesday 05 December 2006, 05:37am
This special documentary will chart the extraordinary story of the Thorne family and their battle to overcome obesity. Nine members of the family have all resorted to radical stomach stapling in a last bid attempt to loose weight. They currently hold the world record as the largest group of people from one family to have undergone this type of surgery and between them they have lost over 100 stone. The family say it has given them all a new lease on life.
The latest member of the family to have the operation is Scott who, at the age of 17, has become the youngest person in Britain to have his stomach stapled. According to UK medical guidelines patients should be over 18.
At 38 stone Scott’s dad, John Thorne, was given just one year to live if he didn’t have the operation and only a fifty per cent chance of surviving surgery. After one year he lost 19 stone.
The operation can give people back their lives – but it is a risk. Surgeon Michael Van Den Bossche says, "There is a big risk. We can have big complications. One patient in every hundred who have the operation can or will die. However I think the risk is overrated, I think it is a lot safer, I think the true mortality rate is less than one percent."
After the operation, weight loss can be very sudden as patients are only able to take a liquid diet before finally managing tiny portions of solid food. Throughout this time they have to be monitored carefully and given special nutrients and vitamins. If they overeat, their bodies will reject food instantly. But for the Thornes this kind of discomfort is worth it.
Dr. Van den Bossche says, "A lot of them were unemployable because of their size. And within weeks or months after surgery they were able to find a job and make a living, get out of the house. People with young children who couldn’t play with their kids were able to get on a bike or play football with their children. Many were suffering from low self esteem which has gone now."
The Fat Family will air at 22:00 on Discovery Home and Health on January 10th.