Jon Brower Minnoch
Encyclopedia
Jon Brower Minnoch was an American
man who, at his peak weight, was the heaviest human being ever recorded, weighing approximately 1400 lb
(634 kg, 100 stone). This figure was only a close estimation, however, because his extreme size, poor health, and lack of mobility prevented use of a scale
.
ization 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.
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.
after 16 months on a strict diet
of 1,200 calories per day. He weighed 476 lb (215 kg), having lost approximately 924 lb (419 kg) - 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 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
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
man who, at his peak weight, was the heaviest human being ever recorded, weighing approximately 1400 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(634 kg, 100 stone). This figure was only a close estimation, however, because his extreme size, poor health, and lack of mobility prevented use of a scale
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
.
Early life
At the age of 12, Minnoch weighed 290 lb (132 kg, 21 stone), and by age 22 he was 6' 1" (1.85 m) in height and weighed 320 lbs (178 kg, 28 stone).Hospitalizations
Minnoch's weight continued to increase steadily until his hospitalHospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
ization in March 1978 at age 37 due to cardiac and respiratory failure
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
. 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
Edema
Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
, a condition where the body accumulates excess extracellular fluid
Extracellular fluid
Extracellular fluid usually denotes all body fluid outside of cells. The remainder is called intracellular fluid.In some animals, including mammals, the extracellular fluid can be divided into two major subcompartments, interstitial fluid and blood plasma...
. 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.
Transportation for Minnoch was extremely difficult. It took over a dozen firemen and rescue personnel, a specially modified stretcher
Stretcher
A stretcher is a medical device used to carry casualties or an incapacitated person from one place to another. It is a simple type of litter, and still called by that name in some cases....
, and a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
boat to transport him to University of Washington Medical Center
University of Washington Medical Center
The University of Washington Medical Center is a nationally renowned hospital located along the Montlake Cut and Portage Bay in the University District of Seattle, Washington, USA. It is one of the teaching hospitals affiliated with the University of Washington School of Medicine. UW 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
Bed sheet
A bed sheet is a piece of cloth used to cover a mattress. It is this sheet that one typically lies on.In many areas of the world, a second flat bed sheet is laid on top of the sheet covering the mattress. This is known as a "top sheet" and when a top sheet is used, the sheet covering the mattress...
changes.
Death
He was discharged from the hospitalHospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
after 16 months on a strict diet
Dieting
Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases dieting is used in combination with physical exercise to lose weight in those who are overweight or obese. Some athletes, however, follow a diet to gain weight...
of 1,200 calories per day. He weighed 476 lb (215 kg), having lost approximately 924 lb (419 kg) - 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 lbs (432 kg). With his underlying condition of edema
Edema
Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
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
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
.