A 196-KILOGRAM Hong Kong man underwent a gastrectomy at Shenzhen People’s Hospital as his obesity had endangered his health, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported Thursday.

The 36-year-old patient, surnamed Xu, gained 50 kilograms over the past two years. According to him, his heavy breathing always makes his social life awkward and he sometimes suffers from sleep apnea.

Xu was diagnosed with severe obesity, respiratory problem, fatty liver and abnormal blood glucose, meaning that his life is in serious danger if he doesn’t lose weight. Following his friends’ advice, Xu decided to undergo a gastrectomy to remove part of his stomach.

Xu is the heaviest surgical patient that Shenzhen People’s Hospital has ever received, and his weight and size created new challenges for the medical staff. Doctors from several departments worked closely together to ensure the operation went smoothly, while the hospital also customized an operating table and equipment for Xu.

The operation was performed successfully and Xu’s stomach was reduced to one-third of its originally size. The doctors suggested that he eat soft food for the first three months to allow his stomach to recover. After three months, a proper plan of eating less food and doing more exercise will be needed to help him lose some weight and adapt to his smaller stomach.

(Zhang Yang, Dong Haowu)