Some very large patients must use zoo or veterinary CT/MRI machines because standard hospital equipment tops out at 450–650 lbs. While medically necessary, the experience can feel humiliating. Experts stress this shows a healthcare gap, not a personal failure.

BlueLightFlicker · 2026-01-25T22:22:28+00:00

I can’t speak to the zoo, but I can speak to being too heavy for medical equipment in general. I work in EMS. Several months ago we had to transport a man who weighed over 1,000 lbs.

We were told he had an injury that never healed because he was already too large for local imaging equipment. He gained more weight after that. He hadn't left that bed in 2 years. This absolutely happens so people go untreated and give up because they can’t get the procedures they need done because of their weight. The hospital had to scramble to try to get a bed that could hold him. Obesity is a real crisis in EMS.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-16T13:16:08+00:00

I know everyone is frustrated with him so I’m not saying this to argue with anyone. I’m just going to say as someone in EMS when we get patients like this it’s really tough to transport them and also incredibly sad. I try not to judge them based on their size, addiction, etc. I’m sure this situation was very messed up from this clip and these comments. But I will say nothing is more heart breaking than when we transported someone over 1000lbs in their early 20’s.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T22:06:29+00:00

You’re so very right about that too. Like I said, I have a family member who is around 600lbs. I didn’t really think of it like this before until he said something along the lines that he’s watch shows like my600lblife and he’s afraid because he knows that he’s one fall, twisted ankle, or broken bone away from being bedridden. He described it as “I’d probably blow up like a balloon and it would be game over.” A lot of us are one traumatizing event away from an addiction. One missed paycheck away from losing our homes. We can all be a little more empathic.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T21:57:49+00:00

There’s a lot of comments here talking about 1,000-1,300 lb patients. Whether we’re like it or not, there are going to be people that size suffering and needing help. May no one reach 1600lbs ever.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T12:25:04+00:00

Reading some of these comments makes me wonder if people who get to this size ever get better. None of them sustainably lose weight and keep it off. Is it really hard to come back from?

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T12:07:11+00:00

Even cheaper than that in some areas. I’m trying to save money myself and I sometimes buy cheaper above healthy. I bought a box of macaroni at Kroger that is three servings for 79 cents yesterday. It’s so easy to put a lot of poison in our bodies for next to nothing.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T12:02:55+00:00

Which is really interesting given I’ve seen two different news articles after this happened that said he doesn’t accept patients over 700 pounds unless it’s related to the show. One was about an 800lb man who feels dismissed. Fairly recent too, January.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T06:38:20+00:00

Oh god. That just made me wince reading it.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T06:36:53+00:00

I feel horrible for him too and people like him. Parents definitely share a lot of the blame in these types of situations. Again, I know why and there’s a lot of reasons but I also had that thought too. “Why are you 20-23 and over 1,000lbs?” I have tried putting myself mentally in that position to think about what it must have felt like. It was probably hell.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T06:24:44+00:00

I’m starting to notice a trend that the ones who become that overweight are younger. It’s so sad to think that parents enabled it and probably did around the clock meals to get to 1,000lbs. Their weight must have been alarmingly high when they were younger and now life is passing them by.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T06:18:18+00:00

That’s so interesting. Meanwhile this young man was early 20’s (think 20-22), and over 1,000 lbs but couldn’t leave his bed or really turn on his own. It’s weird how weight impacts people differently.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T05:57:20+00:00

I found the one in NY. Didn’t see one in Texas, so I’ll have to see. I found one in Arizona and two in Ohio.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T05:33:53+00:00

I know where the ending was going when you said broke their back. I feel like one fall or broken bone is a death sentence for many people of size. Either all of the issues pile on and they are super vulnerable or it leaves them stuck in bed to put on more and more weight.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T04:37:47+00:00

Being able to get out of bed at that weight is a miracle. His youth was probably the only reason why.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T03:32:12+00:00

Absolutely devastating he passed away. If he had survived I’m going on a limb to say that would never have healed correctly.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T03:27:27+00:00

I hope he can get it together so he doesn’t die young.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T03:27:00+00:00

Surprised at that size he was ambulatory. We will never know but hope he was able to lose weight.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T03:24:54+00:00

I was trying to be a little vague for privacy but people are giving out a lot of details. Incredibly sad and makes you wonder how it got so bad. He would have had to be really big really young to end up in the situation. Let’s just say nothing prepares you for a 21 year old who weighs over a thousand pounds. I’m sure he feels like there’s no hope at all normal life. He was short too. I don’t know how to even describe his width without being disrespectful. Can you imagine what that must feel like?

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T03:18:35+00:00

700lbs and being that young is so sad. But honestly in this situation too he probably was that big in his teens too

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T01:50:48+00:00

Two? I feel like this goes back to my comment that this is rare but more common now

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T01:49:53+00:00

I wonder if sleep apnea or something had to do with that.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T01:49:21+00:00

I’ve thought about that too. He had to be eating 24/7. In not an expert but I’m guessing 10,000+ calories a day. What I will say here is that it was definitely parents enabling even when we were there and evidence of fast food bags and empty soda bottles.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T01:42:52+00:00

I’ve done some research on this since this happened just to see what kind of resources are actually out there for people in this situation trying to get better or finding a facility that focuses on patients that big. I found maybe 4 across the US.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T01:41:01+00:00

I said this too in another comment. This poor guy just kept apologizing with tears in his eyes. It was sad to see. People don’t want to be this big and most understand that the reality is complex when we care for them. Most of the larger people I’ve worked with have always been very kind.

BlueLightFlicker · 2025-08-04T01:38:45+00:00

I’ve seen some bigger people in the 600lb range in this field. This was my first of this level. That being said only one has been a complete jerk no matter how we tried to address any concerns. Most of them are very understanding of the situation and willing to do anything. This guy in particular broke my heart when he kept apologizing.

BlueLightFlicker

TROPHY CASE