Junk-food junkie, 20, eats self to death

ourmaninBusan · January 17th, 2006, 04:10 AM

from The Sun

Quote:

By ALASTAIR TAYLOR

A LAD who only ate chips, toast and baked beans was killed by his junk diet — aged just 20.

After years of unhealthy eating, Scott Martin’s liver began to fail, he developed hepatitis and his blood would not clot.

Sixteen-stone Scott refused a life-saving liver transplant because he was too scared and was so weak he needed a wheelchair.

He finally bled to death after an op to remove three infected teeth.
His devastated family told yesterday how they had tried to get Scott to eat proper food since childhood.

His sister Gail Fairweather said: “Scott would never eat any fruit or vegetables. There were only a few things he would eat — McDonald’s chips were his favourite.

“He would eat toast — but only if it was made from sliced white Danish bread, with a thin spreading of Lurpak butter.

“ He would eat baked beans, but only Morrisons’ own brand and only now and then.

“He was always like that, from being little. Finding stuff he would eat was such a struggle.”

Scott, of Sunderland, fell ill last year and at first his family thought he had flu. Mum-of-six Gail said: “He was tired all the time and could not walk far. He got out of breath very quickly and could barely get across the room.”

Medics discovered liver problems — although he rarely drank. Scott was sent to a dietician after refusing the transplant — but didn’t like nutritional supplements on offer.

Doctors insisted on the teeth op, fearing Scott would be killed by blood poisoning — but afterwards his gums would not stop bleeding.

Mum Margaret, 48, said: “The hardest thing is he was so young. I’d do anything to have him back.”

Spare the rod and spoil the child...to death, in this case.

UPDATE: 1 "stone" = 14 pounds, so 16 stone = 224 pounds.

moomies · January 17th, 2006, 04:26 AM

You can't just say he was like that since little, parents need to take some responsibility and make the child learn to eat healthy or force them if they have to, especially if there's a risk of developing some serious diseases if they are not eating right.

Barbara · January 17th, 2006, 04:35 AM

Quote:

“He was always like that, from being little. Finding stuff he would eat was such a struggle.”

Usually it's the parents who get to decide that, not the brat. I'm afraid I can't feel sorry for this guy.

Tiara · January 17th, 2006, 04:54 AM

I saw a documentary on a young lad, I think he was in his early 20's who weighed £28 stone (392lbs) He had specialists trying to help him lose weight but he kept sneaking junk food and his mum was helping him. I had no sympathy for him, I just assumed he was a glutten and I thought he was being ungreatful, lots of overweight people would kill to be given that kind of determination but he just threw it back in their face. He was even offered an operation to remove some of the fat but he was too overweight to go through with it, he finally made an effort and managed to lose 6 stone but he was still too big to have the operation. Now he has had to have his legs amputated because of the damage done to them from all the weight.

They've only just found out that his eating habits were due to some kind of disorder he had that made him constantly hungry and no matter how much he ate he never felt full.

moomies · January 17th, 2006, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiara

They've only just found out that his eating habits were due to some kind of disorder he had that made him constantly hungry and no matter how much he ate he never felt full.

There was an episode on CSI about a guy that had that condition. He was usually chained to a chair and his caretaker would make sure he wouldn't get into the pantry/cupboard to find things to eat etc. But he sneaked out one day and went to a hotdog eating contest where he ate himself to death.

Tiara · January 17th, 2006, 05:05 AM

^^ Oh my god is that really true? Thats horrible. To be honest though, I'd rather be dead than chained to a chair to stop me from eating.

Jeeze, and I think I've got it hard when the sandwich lady comes to work and I'm trying to be healthy!!

moomies · January 17th, 2006, 05:19 AM

Oh CSI is just a fictional show about forensic investigators working on solving crimes...so it's not really true...

Tiara · January 17th, 2006, 05:37 AM

^^ Oh phew, I thought you were being sarcastic for a second then and it was some kind of news program!!! But its sad that that kinda thing could actually happen!

calendargurl · January 17th, 2006, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiara

They've only just found out that his eating habits were due to some kind of disorder he had that made him constantly hungry and no matter how much he ate he never felt full.

was it Prader-Willi? did he have mild retardation?

Tiara · January 17th, 2006, 06:14 AM

I'm not sure but I've just googled Prader-Willi and all the images of people with the disorder look just like the lad I'm thinking of. It must be like downs syndrome where they all have a certain look about them. I'm not sure if he was mildly retarded though, I don't think he seemed it, I can't really remember though, I'm gunna have a look for him.

misskris · January 17th, 2006, 11:12 AM

prader-willi can cause more than mild retardation. i was watching dr. phil one day (haha i know!) and there was a little girl that was afflicted. she would go nuts for food to the point that her parents had to put a padlock on the refridgerator for the good of her health. she would break in and basically gorge herself continuously. this poor girl was also verbally abused by her mother calling her a fat f*ck and other horrible things. the girl was about maybe 6 years old or so but had the mentality of about a 2 year old. she would go to the bathroom in her pants and had a general look of confusion all the time. the mother was losing it because she couldn't handle the little girl. it was all very sad.

Quote:

http://www.webmd.com/hw/heart_disease/nord14.aspPrader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized in infancy by diminished muscle tone (hypotonia), feeding difficulties, and failure to grow and gain weight (failure to thrive). In childhood, features of the disorder include short stature, genital abnormalities and an excessive appetite. Progressive obesity results because of a lack of feeling satisfied after completing a meal (satiety) that leads to overeating. Without appropriate treatment, individuals with severe progressive obesity may have an increased risk of cardiac insufficiency, diabetes or other serious conditions that may lead to potentially life-threatening complications. All individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome have some cognitive impairment that ranges from borderline normal with learning disabilities to mild mental retardation. Behavior problems are common and can include temper tantrums, obsessive/compulsive behavior, and skin picking.

Prader-Willi syndrome occurs when the genes in a specific region of chromosome 15 do not function. The abnormal genes usually result from random errors in development, but are sometimes inherited.

muchlove · January 17th, 2006, 12:28 PM

It sounds like some kind of weird eating disorder where you'll only eat certain foods. There is a disorder like that, isn't there?

Algernon · January 17th, 2006, 08:26 PM

"There were only a few things he would eat — McDonald’s chips were his favourite.

............

Medics discovered liver problems — although he rarely drank."

This immediately struck me, because I remember that documentary called SuperSize Me. The dude who made it ate McDonald's fries every day...and his liver began to fail. Scary!!!

Sojiita · January 17th, 2006, 11:47 PM

Well shit no more mickey D's fries for me...although if the alcohol hasn't hurt my liver yet(it is in great shape) I wonder if anything will??? And there are so many weird eating disorders it would not surprise me at all if he had one.

Laurent · January 18th, 2006, 12:03 AM

I feel sorry for the kid only because his parents started all that when he was very young. There comes a point where everyone must take responsibility for themselves, but his mother should take a big chunk if she was giving him McDonalds everyday as a toddler.

I don't understand why they didn't shove an IV in his arm with nutritional supplements if he was getting to the point of organ failure and he wouldn't take them orally. Catered to this kid to death.