Not long ago, Robert Grant weighed in at fifty stone and led an isolated life. Home Truths reporter Aislinn Duffield went to talk to Robert and his mum about how the problem came about, and why it's getting better...
Robert is a former lorry driver who lives with his mother in Ballygowann in Belfast. When his father died thirteen years ago, Robert stopped work and moved in with his mother who was finding it diffcult to cope, emotionally, with her husband's death. Robert had always been big, but overeating and lack of exercise, caused his weighed to reach fifty stone. His body was under tremendous strain from the excess weight, and the doctors told him he wouldn't see forty. His emotional state became so bad, that he refused to leave the house and for years led a life of complete isolation.
"If you see my jumper handing out on the line, it's like something you'd took off a tall ship! I'd get up in the morning, go straight into the kitchen and make something to eat, and soon as I'd finished I'd get up again for some more. I'd think what the hell am I doing making this - I don't need it. You're sitting here and you're stuffed full and you belly's sore and you're still stuffing it into you..." Robert's mother says he was like an alcoholic with drink...
Robert refused to go out, "People would shout "Fatso" and run and you do feel hurt..." Eventually he could take no more and stayed in the house. From the front window he watched the world go by, thinking about losing weight and getting back to lorry driving. "I've always felt guilty about hurting my mother - she was always scared for me. It never really dawned on me to do something about it..."
Robert's mother was fearful for her son, "I could have gone to bed, and the next morning Robert could have been taken, just as my husband was taken. I worried about his weight - in my head all the time was - where would they get a big enough coffin for him How would they get him out of the house..."
Robert decided to lose weight, "I knew I had to do something. I was no use to myself." A friend of Robert's who'd broken his back and managed to fight his way back into lorry-driving, inspired Robert to tackle his weight. He now eats a light diet of fish, and never eats after six o'clock, "When I started I was about forty-five stone. In seven months, I have lost over thirteen stone."
Robert's mother is proud of her son's achievements. Robert's back in the car now, driving around the town. He's visited a couple of shops, people have told Robert it's good to have him back again. For those who may give him less of a welcome, Robert's now got the confidence to say, "They can think what they want!"
The relationship has between mother and son has become less intense,"I used to think what is going to happen to him if anything happens to me - but he doesn't need his mummy now." Robert knows his mother has got used to having him around, "I want out now, and I want to work again - she'll have to get used to it." His mother is ready for this, "The day that Robert leaves me will be sad, but happy. I'm proud of him."
Robert's weight continues to fall, and he starts a new job after Christmas
