AJ has spent the last six years trapped in their house, as well as in their own body.
The super morbidly obese 24-year-old can spend 19 hours a day on a mattress in the living room – staring at the same four walls all day.
AJ, who lives in Airdrie, Scotland, is forced to sleep on a pile of pillows while using a special sleep mask because the excess weight compresses the airway.
The biggest fear for mum Sharon is that AJ will stop breathing during the night, so she sleeps beside her child on another mattress.
Even the most basic of tasks require help from Sharon, who has washed AJ for the last six years and helps with trips to the toilet.
“My role at the moment is mother to a giant baby,” admits Sharon. “It breaks your heart to see your child like this, it really does.”
(Image: Channel 4)
Isolated at home, AJ relies on two dogs for company because “animals don’t judge”, having faced cruel taunts from bullies at school and even children on the street.
At a staggering 41st, AJ is carrying four times recommended weight for someone their age and can eat up to 12 teacakes and six litres of cola a day.
Sharon is solely in charge of the cooking and shopping, with AJ consuming around 5,000 calories per day, which is more than double daily recommended amount.
Dinner is eaten kneeling at the counter because AJ doesn’t like being higher than the worktop.
“I know a lot of people would say you’re a mother it’s your fault. Hands up yeah totally agree with you, partly it is my fault,” admits Sharon.
(Image: Channel 4)
Sharon is concerned that without drastic help AJ will never be able to see the outside world, or worse still die at an early age.
“The doctors are saying AJ is not going to be here in five or 10 years time the way you’re going on. That’s really frightening,” confesses Sharon.
AJ, who identifies as non-binary and uses “them” and “they” pronouns has another strong reason for wanting to lose weight.
They dream of having a gender reassignment operation, but doctors warn they might die if they went under the knife.
“My body doesn’t reflect who I am because I still have the female attire. What I want now is a mastectomy and a hysterectomy. I want to be me, just me,” says AJ.
(Image: Blink Films Entertainment)
Channel 4 documentary Shut-Ins: Britain’s Fattest People charts AJ’s journey to get the drastic surgery that will change their life forever.
At 41st, any surgery on AJ is considered too dangerous, so drastic changes in their lifestyle and diet are needed.
Before doctors will agree to surgery, AJ sees a psychologist to confront where there overeating comes from.
Clinical psychologist Dr Laura Williams begins unpicking years of ingrained physical and psychological habits.
While mum Sharon explains that as a busy mum she would cook “cheat dinners” such as microwave meals, then use chocolate to comfort AJ after vile taunts from bullies.
(Image: Channel 4)
It’s then time to for AJ to be assessed to see whether they are a suitable candidate for surgery.
A BMI of 30 is considered obese, which means AJ is off the scale at a staggering 95.
AJ gained 67kg, the weight of a person, in less than a year, which starts ringing alarm bells for bariatric surgeon Professor David Kerrigan.
Giving Sharon some home truths, he says: “That shopping and that food that allowed AJ to gain the weight of a whole person in less than a year, you contributed to.
“This operation could kill AJ if it went badly wrong. It’s a small risk. If AJ was my child I’d be thinking do I want them to go through that risk when it could be a waste of time anyway because of things that I’m doing.”
It’s too much for Sharon to take as she walks out in tears – and AJ confesses to Professor Kerrigan that no one has ever pointed that out to mum before.
(Image: Channel 4)
They both have to show they’ve made changes before they can start any surgery.
With the pair both requiring a transformation, Professor Kerrigan believes AJ is up for the challenge but is less convinced about Sharon.
It’s a “kick in the teeth” for AJ, who realises there is not a quick fix solution.
“The problem has been swept aside for so long you don’t notice things. It’s only when someone says take a step back you realise they’re right,” confesses Sharon.
The family start making big changes into the type of food that is brought into the house – with AJ writing an action plan to Professor Kerrigan.
The fry ups and fatty snacks are gone, being replaced by healthy meals with vegetables.
(Image: CHANNEL 4)
As well as changing diet, exercise is part of the new action plan, which means finally leaving the security of the house.
Just 15 minutes of gentle walking if exhausting for AJ, but they refuse to get a lift home when suggested by mum.
During another session with the psychologist, Dr Williams points out that avoidance of issues has caused problems and AJ’s refusal to speak negatively about mum Sharon.
“These sessions have been an eye-opener to me. I thought I knew best. Basically I need to grow up and accept other people’s advice,” admits Sharon.
In the next episode, we discover whether AJ has done enough to be able to have surgery.
AJ realises they need to be more independent and change their lifestyle – but will it be enough?
*Shut-ins: Britain’s Fattest People airs Mondays on Channel 4 at 10pm
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/morbidly-obese-41st-brit-wants-23344342