World's heaviest woman under observation; put on liquid diet

Eman Ahmed, who weighs around 500 kg and is the world's heaviest woman, has been under observation at the Saifee Hospital since her arrival here on Saturday and has now been put on high-protein liquid diet, doctors said.
"Eman has now been put on high-protein liquid diet. For the past 48 hours, she has been under the observation of a team of doctors," noted bariatric surgeon Muffazal Lakdawala, who leads the team, told reporters here.
"The doctors have been conducting extensive tests as step one in the process of Eman's treatment," Lakdawala said.
"A room has been specially created for Eman by the hospital," he said.

"Weight is just one of Eman's problems. She has been confined to bed for more than two decades, unable to move due to her weight. She also suffers from several medical complications due to her weight and continued immobility over the years, making her case very complex and high risk.
"Bringing a semblance of normalcy to Eman's life may take a few years. The entire panel of doctors treating Eman is committed to giving her the best care and helping her to get back on her feet and recover from her current ailments," he said.

"My priority is to save Eman and give her quality of life. If I can ensure with whatever means, by bariatric surgery or otherwise, to enable her to sit up and do things on her own in this first stage; for me that shall be victory," he said.

Over the last five months, Lakdawala and the management of Mumbai's Saifee Hospital have worked to enable Eman's journey to recovery, a statement from the hospital this evening said.
Lakdawala had taken on this challenging case pro bono late last year, in response to an appeal for help from Eman's sister, it said.
Lakdawala, who is Chairman, Institute of Minimal Access Surgical Sciences and Research Centre, and Shaimaa Ahmed, Eman's sister, discussed details of Eman's stay and the next steps of her treatment.
Given Eman's unique requirements, special arrangements have been made at Saifee hospital where she will be treated gratis, the statement said.