Picture this: you weigh nearly half a ton. That’s the reality Paul Jonathan Mason faced. Born in 1960 in the UK, Mason once held the title of Britain’s heaviest man, peaking at an astonishing 980 pounds (444 kg). Every step was a struggle, every breath a burden. His body had become a prison, and even simple movement required help.
Paul’s story isn’t just about weight. It’s about desperation, rejection, resilience, and what happens when the world’s heaviest man finally decides to fight back.
Video:
World’s Fattest Man Paul Mason Found Love After Slims Down
Waiting for a Lifeline: A 10-Year Fight for Surgery
Paul didn’t choose this life—but he did choose to change it. He begged the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for gastric bypass surgery, applying several times over a decade. But help didn’t come easily. It wasn’t until 2010, after two years of mandatory counseling, that he finally received approval.
By then, his health had deteriorated, but his hope hadn’t. When the green light came, he took it with both hands. The gastric bypass surgery marked the start of something big—something life-altering.
Losing 600 Pounds: A Fight Against the Odds
After his surgery, Paul’s body began to shrink. In just five years, he dropped a staggering 600 pounds. By 2014, he was down to 310 pounds (140 kg)—a number he hadn’t seen in decades.
It wasn’t just about the scale. Losing weight meant gaining life. He could walk again. He could breathe without machines. He could move, and movement was freedom.
But there was a catch. That much weight loss left behind pounds of loose, sagging skin—over 90 pounds of it. It clung to his legs, chest, and arms like a heavy reminder of the man he once was.
Surgery for Skin Removal: Gaining Back His Body
Paul underwent multiple surgeries to remove the excess skin. In May 2015, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, doctors removed another 49–60 pounds of it. For the first time in years, his reflection looked more like the man he felt inside.
Video: World’s Fattest Man Loses 644 Lbs – Paul Mason
By 2017, he had reached 280 pounds (127 kg) and was living in a boarding house in the U.S., trying to rebuild his life. He walked more freely. He reconnected with the outside world. It seemed like Paul Mason had made it out of the storm.
Love and Loss: A Relationship That Changed Everything
For a while, Paul had more than his health—he had love. But in 2018, he went through a difficult breakup. And for someone who had turned to food as a coping mechanism for decades, the emotional hit was too much.
Old habits crept in. Emotional eating replaced discipline. And before long, Paul was back in a dangerous spiral.
A Painful Relapse: Gaining Back Over 200 Pounds
By 2019, Paul publicly admitted that he had doubled in size—from 275 pounds to over 500 pounds (230 kg) again. The news hit hard, not just for Paul, but for everyone who followed his story.
The weight wasn’t just coming back physically—it was crashing down mentally. His story, once filled with triumph, had taken a heartbreaking turn. But that doesn’t mean it’s over.
Understanding Relapse: Why Paul’s Story Still Matters
Paul Mason’s relapse isn’t a failure—it’s a reminder that weight loss is not a straight line. It’s a lifelong battle with emotional triggers, access to support, and financial stability. He had lost nearly 670 pounds—more than most people will ever weigh in their lives. That kind of success isn’t erased by setbacks.
Video: Holly and Phil chat with Paul Mason – 5th Nov 2013
His story shines a light on how deeply addiction, trauma, and isolation are woven into obesity. This isn’t just about discipline. It’s about healing wounds that most people never see.
Where Paul Stands Today
As of his last updates, Paul remains in the U.S., continuing to navigate his health journey. While he’s gained back a significant amount of weight, he’s also spoken openly about his struggles, which in itself takes bravery.
He still holds the record as the heaviest person ever recorded in the UK, but that number doesn’t define him. What defines Paul is the fire he showed when he dropped over 600 pounds and the honesty he brings in facing his relapse.
Paul Mason’s story is heartbreaking, inspiring, and brutally real. From being trapped in a bed at 980 pounds to walking again after shedding over 600 pounds, he proved that even the most impossible odds can be overcome. And while he’s stumbled, that doesn’t erase what he achieved.
He reminds us that transformation is messy. That healing doesn’t always look like a straight path. And that even giants can fall—and rise again.
If there’s one thing we can take from Paul’s journey, it’s this: even when you fall back, you can still move forward.