Juan Pedro Franco, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's most obese man, has died at the age of 41. Franco passed away on December 24 in a hospital in Aguascalientes, Mexico, due to a severe kidney infection and subsequent systemic complications. His passing was confirmed by his treating physician, Dr. José Antonio Castaneda.

At his peak, Franco weighed an astonishing 1,322 pounds (over 1,300 pounds) and was largely confined to bed for years, unable to move independently due to extreme obesity. His extraordinary condition garnered global attention in 2017 when he received his world record title.

Later that same year, Franco embarked on an intensive and closely monitored medical program under Dr. Castaneda's care. His comprehensive treatment plan initially involved a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, followed by two crucial bariatric procedures: a gastric sleeve operation and, subsequently, a gastric bypass. This combined approach led to a dramatic and life-changing reduction in his weight, cutting it by nearly half. The significant weight loss enabled him to regain mobility, allowing him to walk again after years of being bedridden.

Doctors noted that this improvement considerably reduced his risk of diabetes-related complications and cardiovascular strain, although his long history of severe illness meant he remained vulnerable. A testament to his resilience, Franco notably survived COVID-19 in 2020, despite his medical background categorizing him as extremely high-risk. Dr. Castaneda described Franco's case as one of the most complex he had ever treated, emphasizing that Franco's openness about his struggles helped bring attention to obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term, compassionate medical care.

Reflecting on his lifelong battle with weight, Franco once expressed, "My body just followed its own path without any control whatsoever. I tried to diet day after day, but nothing worked, and I became desperate." After his successful weight loss surgeries, he shared his newfound sense of liberation: "Just being able to lift up your arms and get up every day, get up for a glass of water or to go to the toilet, makes you feel great. It feels fantastic to be able to move more and be more self-sufficient."

Franco's death regrettably adds to a somber list of extreme obesity cases that have ended in fatal complications. He shares a striking parallel with American Jon Brower Minnoch, who at an estimated 1,400 pounds, held the record for the heaviest person ever documented. Minnoch also died at 41, in 1983, from heart and respiratory failure after years of severe health issues. Another prominent case is that of Manuel Uribe, also from Mexico, who reached over 1,200 pounds at his heaviest. Uribe, despite significant weight loss through medical intervention, passed away in 2014 at 48 from liver failure linked to long-term obesity-related illness.