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Australia's biggest man to reveal weight-loss - but he's not alone

Australia’s obesity epidemic has created hundreds of extreme cases and one expert has estimated there may be as many as 1000 people physically unable to leave their homes.

Andre Nasr was one of them, most likely the worst in the country, but 14 months later, Andre is finally out of hospital and is almost half the man he was before.

Andre grew to 470kg and had been unable to leave his house. Before he was hospitalized he was consuming a staggering 50,200 kilojoules or 12,000 calories a day — six time the average consumption recommended for Australians.

In an interview to air October 18, Sunday Night revisits Andre one year since the medical intervention with Sydney Obesity specialist Dr Nic Kormas.

In this extraordinary display of determination, Andre has gone from a bed-ridden giant to back on his feet, working out at his home gym and avoiding the foods that took him to the brink. He's aiming to stay the course and he's set new challenges to hit his ultimate weight goal.

But he also reveals his new lease on life has come at a cost. He has had to sever ties with his parents because he believes they are part of his eating problem.

Not surprisingly Andre is not alone in his struggle, there are increasing numbers of cases just like his.

One of them was John Assanti. The 360 kilogram US man gained notoriety after he said he was kicked out of the hospital for ordering a pizza. Assanti said in a YouTube video that he had finally received some big news. “I got a place willing to accept me,” he said. “And it’s a facility specifically for bariatric patients.”

The 33-year-old said he's addicted to pizza, as long as it's not topped with anchovies.

"I love food. I always loved to eat," he told The Associated Press on Monday. "I didn't think it would cause me harm and make me into the monster that I am right now. I don't feel human."

This New Zealand makeup artist lost half her body weight but quickly found the new threat to her wellbeing was internet trolls.

Through a combination of diet and exercise, following gastric bypass surgery, Simone Anderson has lost a total of 86 kg.

But when Facebook users questioned the authenticity of photos she posted to instagram, she shut them down in an incredibly brave way.

Photo: Instagram/@simone_anderson
Photo: Instagram/@simone_anderson

“Yes I have lose [sic] skin and stretch marks but I don’t feel the need to show them in every single photo I post online,” she wrote on her post.

It is no surprise TV shows like The Biggest Loser have become ratings winners, with more and more Aussies in need of intervention for overeating and extreme obesity.

Eight years ago Fiona Falkiner graced our TV screens as a contestant on The Biggest Loser Australia.

Today, a healthy and happy size 16, Falkiner has become one of Australia’s top modelling talents alongside Robyn Lawley and Georgina Burke, frequently jetting across the globe for her work.



The popular Top 40 morning radio show host Elvis Duran revealed earlier this year a "gastric sleeve" procedure helped him lose 105 pounds.

One of WA's most recognisable footy fans was suddenly not so recognizable when the Eagles cheer squad leader was forced to slim down. Daniel Williams once weighed 234 kilos... but not anymore.


Watch Andre's full story Sunday October 18 on Seven at 7PM.