Career
This figure was only a close estimation because his extreme size, declining health, and lack of mobility prevented use of a scale. At the age of 12, Minnoch weighed 294 lb (133 kilograms. 210 stone), and by age 22 he was 73 in (190 cm.
6 ft 1 in) in height and weighed 392 lb (178 kilograms.
280 stone).
Minnoch"s weight continued to increase steadily until his hospitalization in March 1978 at age 36 due to cardiac and respiratory failure. Minnoch was diagnosed with massive generalized edema, a condition where the body accumulates excess extracellular fluid.
Upon his hospital admission, it was estimated by endocrinologist Doctor Robert Schwartz that over 900 lbs (408 kg) of his overall body mass was retained fluid. Transportation for Minnoch was extremely difficult.
lieutenant took over a dozen firemen and rescue personnel, a specially modified stretcher, and a ferry boat to transport him to University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
There, he was placed on two beds pushed together, and it took 13 people to simply roll him over for linen changes. He was discharged from the hospital after 16 months on a strict diet of 1,200 kcal (5,000 kJ) per day. He weighed 476 lb (216 kg.
340 st), having lost approximately 924 lb (419 kg.
660 st), the largest human weight loss ever documented. However, he was readmitted to the hospital just over a year later in October 1981, after his weight increased to 952 lb (432 kg.
680 st). With his underlying condition of edema being incurable and difficult to treat, the decision was made to discontinue treatment, and he died 23 months later on September 10, 1983, aged 41.
At the time of his death, he weighed 798 lb (362 kg. 570 st) with a 105.3 BMI.
