Jon Blower Minnoch (29 September 1941[1] – 10 September 1983) was an American man who, at his peak weight, was the heaviest human being ever recorded, weighing approximately 1400 lb (634 kg, 100 stone).[2] This figure was only a close estimation, however, because his extreme size, poor health, and lack of mobility prevented use of a scale.[3]
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At the age of 12, Minnoch weighed 290 lb (132 kg, 21 stone),[4] and by age 22 he was 6' 1" (1.85 m) in height and weighed 320 lbs (178 kg, 28 stone).[5]
Minnoch's weight continued to increase steadily until his hospitalization in March 1978 at age 37 due to cardiac and respiratory failure. That same year, he broke a record for the greatest difference in weight between a married couple when he married his 110-lb wife Jeannette and later fathered two children. 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 Dr. Robert Schwartz that over 900 lbs (408 kg) of his overall body mass was retained fluid.[5]
Transportation for Minnoch was extremely difficult. It 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.[5]
He was discharged from the hospital after 16 months on a strict diet of 1,200 calories per day.[5] He weighed 476 lb (215 kg), having lost approximately 924 lb (419 kg) - the largest human weight loss ever documented.[6] However, he was readmitted to the hospital just over a year later in October 1981, after his weight increased to 952 lbs (432 kg). 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 lbs (362 kg) with a 105.3 BMI.[2][5]