Lost Nearly 400 kg, but "World's Heaviest Man" Dies at 41

Guinness World’s Heaviest Man Dies
Life Cut Short by Complications from Kidney Infection

A Mexican man who was listed in the Guinness World Records as the "heaviest person in the world" has died at the age of 41.

According to reports from the British media outlet Daily Mail and other foreign news agencies on December 30 (local time), Juan Pedro Franco died on December 24 from complications caused by a kidney infection. It is reported that his condition rapidly deteriorated while he was receiving treatment at a hospital in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Juan Pedro Franco, who holds the Guinness World Record as the heaviest person in the world. Instagram

Franco drew global attention in 2017 when he was registered in the Guinness World Records with a weight of 594.8 kg. His highest recorded weight was about 606 kg, and due to extreme obesity, he was unable to perform routine movements and had to live confined to his bed. During this time, he suffered from multiple chronic illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, and thyroid dysfunction.

Determined to restore his health, he began a systematic treatment regimen under medical supervision that same year. In addition to dietary control, he underwent two bariatric surgeries-sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass-and strictly adhered to a Mediterranean diet focused on fruits and vegetables. According to his medical team, these treatments enabled him to reduce his weight to around 200-210 kg by 2020, achieving a weight loss of approximately 400 kg. At that time, he had recovered enough physical function to walk on his own.

During his treatment, Franco candidly shared his feelings. In a past interview, he said, "My body was out of control and went its own way. I tried dieting every day, but nothing worked, and I fell into despair." After his surgeries, he reflected on his changed daily life, saying, "Just being able to get up by myself, drink a glass of water, and go to the bathroom alone every day brings me great joy."

The medical team assessed his case as a symbolic example of the complexity and difficulty of treating obesity. The doctor in charge described Franco’s treatment as "one of the most complex cases," and explained that by sharing his experience publicly, Franco helped spread awareness that obesity is a chronic disease requiring long-term management, rather than a problem that can be solved quickly.

Franco also had a history of recovering after being treated for 22 days for COVID-19 in 2020. However, at the end of this year, after developing a kidney infection, his symptoms worsened, leading to systemic complications from which he ultimately could not recover. His primary physician, Dr. Jose Antonio Castaneda, stated, "This time, he could not overcome the complications," adding, "Franco inspired many people in his fight against extreme obesity."