Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
A 36-year-old says he is a new man after he managed to lose 158 kilogrammes (348 lb) after deciding to eat healthy and have a gastric bypass.
Pablo Bragale, 36, started his fight against obesity after realising he had reached 240 kilogrammes (529 lb) on the scales.
Reports said that he made a drastic change in his diet and in 2017 he was cast for the reality show ‘Cuestion de peso’ (Weight issues) on the Argentinian TV channel Net TV.
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Bragale wrote on social media: “I remember I arrived at the studio and sat on a chair. Nobody would sit next to me as if it was contagious. I filed the application and I waited sitting there.”
He said the appearance on the show was a wake up call, and the former contestant weights now 82 kilogrammes (181 lb) which he said has changed his life and boosted his self-esteem.
Bragale told local media: “I started to talk and interact more. I became more social. I started to go out dancing, my self-esteem improved. I felt confident again.
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“I did not go out in the past because people looked at me and public facilities were often not suitable. Chairs are small, the toilets are small. I would not take pictures of myself, I do it now. I would only wear black, now I wear colours.”
His determination to lose weight came after years of obesity and being bullied at school for his condition.
Bragale said: “The first day I weighed myself the scale tipped 207 kilogrammes (456 lb). I called my father and I said I am a Peugeot because I weight 207 kg.
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“When you suffer from obesity not only do you gain weight, you have problems with hygiene, strange smells, excessive sweating and children bully you. I was fighting against something that I did not know was a disease.”
But he says that the health service is not ready to tackle obesity as a health issue in Argentina.
He said: “As soon as you have 5 (11 lb) or 10 (22 lb) extra kilogrammes you start having problems. Your blood test results might be good but you can still have your knees weaken and problems to breathe.”
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