Manuel Uribe Garza
Encyclopedia
Manuel "Xavier" Uribe is a man from Monterrey
, Nuevo León
, Mexico
, notable for suffering from morbid obesity to one of the greatest extents known in recorded history. After reaching a peak weight of around 597 kg (1,316.2 lb) and having been unable to leave his bed since 2001, Uribe lost approximately 400 lbs (one third of his body weight, about 181.8 kg) with the help of doctors and nutritionists, and by following the Zone diet
. Uribe drew worldwide attention when he appeared on the Televisa
television network in January 2006, but turned down offers for gastric bypass surgery
in Italy
.
Uribe has also been featured on The World's Heaviest Man, a television documentary about his bedridden life and attempts to overcome the disease. By October 26, 2008, Uribe had reduced his weight to 360 kg (793.7 lb). His efforts to overcome the disease continue. In mid 2009, it was falsely reported that Manuel had died. Manuel Uribe is on a quest to shed another 225 kg (496 lb).
for employment opportunities. Manuel and his wife settled in Dallas, where he was employed fixing typewriters. The nature of this profession required Manuel to spend his day sitting at a desk. He said, "Life in the U.S. is like that. You just go from your desk to your car. I used to drive my car to and from work, so I didn't get any exercise".
s, fish fillet in a bed of spring greens). Dr. Barry Sears
, who made the diet said: "Manuel's ability to lose more than 400 pounds without resorting to weight loss surgery is a remarkable accomplishment."
Uribe, on October 3, 2008, gave diet advice to a fellow Mexican, critically obese and bedridden José Luis Garza
, who weighed 450 kg (992.1 lb). A former chef at a bowling alley, Garza, who was unable to get out of his bed for four months, said: "Manuel inspires me with courage and the will to live. I understand that this is matter of life and death and that I have to follow the instructions that are given to me." Uribe sent girlfriend Claudia Solís to Garza's home with kiwifruit
, grapefruit, pears, and protein supplements, and promised to help Garza get a wheel-equipped iron bed; however, Garza died five days later on the 8th of October, 2008.
Manuel has announced plans to launch the Manuel Uribe Foundation to educate Mexican people about nutrition, to combat obesity
problems. He reportedly asked Guinness World Records
in July 2008 to certify his second title: "The World's Greatest Loser of Weight," although this title would be held by American Jon Brower Minnoch
.
before over 400 guests. Discovery Channel
's The World's Heaviest Man Gets Married documentary will be the third TV show featuring Uribe.
s he experiences in both legs.
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, notable for suffering from morbid obesity to one of the greatest extents known in recorded history. After reaching a peak weight of around 597 kg (1,316.2 lb) and having been unable to leave his bed since 2001, Uribe lost approximately 400 lbs (one third of his body weight, about 181.8 kg) with the help of doctors and nutritionists, and by following the Zone diet
Zone diet
The Zone diet is a diet popularized in books by biochemist Barry Sears. It advocates consuming calories from carbohydrates, protein, and fat in a balanced ratio.- Theory :...
. Uribe drew worldwide attention when he appeared on the Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
television network in January 2006, but turned down offers for gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass procedures are any of a group of similar operations that first divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower "remnant" pouch and then re-arranges the small intestine to allow both pouches to stay connected to it. Surgeons have developed several different ways...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Uribe has also been featured on The World's Heaviest Man, a television documentary about his bedridden life and attempts to overcome the disease. By October 26, 2008, Uribe had reduced his weight to 360 kg (793.7 lb). His efforts to overcome the disease continue. In mid 2009, it was falsely reported that Manuel had died. Manuel Uribe is on a quest to shed another 225 kg (496 lb).
Personal life
Manuel Uribe currently resides in San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon.. He claims that when he was growing up he was slightly obese but not to a significant extent. It wasn't until his 20s that his obesity increased to a serious extent. In 1987 he got married and moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for employment opportunities. Manuel and his wife settled in Dallas, where he was employed fixing typewriters. The nature of this profession required Manuel to spend his day sitting at a desk. He said, "Life in the U.S. is like that. You just go from your desk to your car. I used to drive my car to and from work, so I didn't get any exercise".
Diet and weight loss
Manuel Uribe's weight-loss diet consists of 2,000 daily calories, with six meals (egg-white omelets, fresh salads, chicken fajitaFajita
A fajita is a term found in both traditional Mexican cuisine and in Tex-Mex cuisine, commonly referring to any grilled meat served on a flour or corn tortilla. The term originally referred to the cut of beef used in the dish which is known as skirt steak. Popular meats today also include chicken,...
s, fish fillet in a bed of spring greens). Dr. Barry Sears
Barry Sears
Barry Sears, Ph.D. is a biochemist best known for creating and promoting the Zone diet, which is aimed at achieving stable blood sugar levels, hormonal balance, low inflammation, and good health...
, who made the diet said: "Manuel's ability to lose more than 400 pounds without resorting to weight loss surgery is a remarkable accomplishment."
Uribe, on October 3, 2008, gave diet advice to a fellow Mexican, critically obese and bedridden José Luis Garza
José Luis Garza
José Luis Garza Rodríguez of Juárez, Nuevo León, Mexico, was, at the time of his death, one of the world's heaviest people, with a total weight of 452 kg . He was also bedridden for four months...
, who weighed 450 kg (992.1 lb). A former chef at a bowling alley, Garza, who was unable to get out of his bed for four months, said: "Manuel inspires me with courage and the will to live. I understand that this is matter of life and death and that I have to follow the instructions that are given to me." Uribe sent girlfriend Claudia Solís to Garza's home with kiwifruit
Kiwifruit
The kiwifruit, often shortened to kiwi in many parts of the world, is the edible berry of a cultivar group of the woody vine Actinidia deliciosa and hybrids between this and other species in the genus Actinidia....
, grapefruit, pears, and protein supplements, and promised to help Garza get a wheel-equipped iron bed; however, Garza died five days later on the 8th of October, 2008.
Manuel has announced plans to launch the Manuel Uribe Foundation to educate Mexican people about nutrition, to combat obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
problems. He reportedly asked Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
in July 2008 to certify his second title: "The World's Greatest Loser of Weight," although this title would be held by American Jon Brower Minnoch
Jon Brower Minnoch
Jon Brower Minnoch was an American man who, at his peak weight, was the heaviest human being ever recorded, weighing approximately 1400 lb...
.
Second wedding
After four years together, Uribe — who weighed in at 700 pounds after shedding 592 pounds — on October 26, 2008, married his second wife Claudia from his bed. He said: "I am proof you can find love in any circumstances. It's all a question of faith. I have a wife and will form a new family and live a happy life." He was transported to the civil wedding on his specially-reinforced four-poster bed, draped with cream and gold and adorned in bright sunflowers, on the back of a truck. Donning a white silk shirt with a sheet around his legs, he waited to greet Claudia as she walked down a flight of stairs wearing a strapless ivory dress and a tiaraTiara
A tiara is a form of crown. There are two possible types of crown that this word can refer to.Traditionally, the word "tiara" refers to a high crown, often with the shape of a cylinder narrowed at its top, made of fabric or leather, and richly ornamented. It was used by the kings and emperors of...
before over 400 guests. Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's The World's Heaviest Man Gets Married documentary will be the third TV show featuring Uribe.
Health effects
For Uribe, the principal complication of the disease from which he suffers are lymphedemaLymphedema
Lymphedema , also known as lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system....
s he experiences in both legs.
