A Brummie man is set to smash the world record for the fastest 100kg weight drop without going under the knife, despite health professionals urging caution. At 32 stone, Kamran Yousaf, 48, was given a grim prognosis by medics who reckoned he had a mere 30% shot at outliving the next half-decade – but now he’s set to lose 15 stone in a short period of time – and save his own life.
Undeterred, last August saw Kamran embrace an extreme diet, munching on a meagre 100 to 800 calories daily. Kamran boasts of being well on his way to shedding 100kg within a year now tipping the scales at 22 stone, a potential record-breaker for his age bracket across the UK. The Birmingham resident, who’s already 63kg lighter, swears he’s not starved and stands by his drastic plan, arguing it beats being “close to death from obesity”.
Yet, specialists have sounded the alarm over his methods, flagging potential risks. Weight loss expert Vanessa Sturman, 37, cautioned: “I think it’s imperative that someone in his position sees a dietician, who can help him set safe and realistic goals. Creating a goal such as ‘losing record weight’ could be dangerous”, reports Bristol Live.
“Secondly, eventually anyone looking to manage their weight or lose weight is going to have to learn how to eat in a truly sustainable way, that’s healthy, satisfying and maintains a healthy weight for the long run, without dieting. So you want to make sure you are putting that sustainability in place throughout your weight loss journey.
“What we want to think about are the healthy foods we are adding in. You will lose weight from a calorie deficit – but we have to think about adding foods that prevent disease, give us energy and are satiating. Or it simply won’t be sustainable or healthy.
“For example, fibre from plant based wholefoods, such as fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds, feed our good gut bacteria, can help prevent disease and are satiating. Diversity in these foods is key for gut health and overall health. By adding these foods into our diet, and focussing on truly balanced eating, without dieting, we can better sustain a healthy weight.”
Kamran, who has been registered disabled for four years, said: “If I didn’t take action I would have died in days – I want to show others that no matter how big you are there is always a way back. I eat everything I want, but just one spoonful or one bite.
“I am not saying everyone should do this – but if you know you are close to death from obesity, I think this is a much better option.”
Kamran has battled weight issues since childhood, but his life took a dramatic turn ten years ago when he was diagnosed with type 2 respiratory failure. Living in Reading at the time, he experienced excruciating morning headaches, prompting his doctor to test his oxygen levels during sleep.
The results were alarming.
Kamran’s oxygen saturation plummeted to a perilous 50%, leading to an immediate admission into intensive care where he spent a week on a ventilator. “The doctors couldn’t believe I was still alive,” Kamran revealed.
His condition improved over time, and he was finally discharged, but with a grim prognosis of a high likelihood of death within five years. His respiratory system now demands meticulous management, including home oxygen and ventilators.
In addition to his breathing issues, Kamran grappled with arthritis and a host of health problems over the past decade. In August 2024, his doctors gave him a bleak 30% chance of survival over the next five years.
This dire prediction served as a wake-up call for Kamran.
Refusing to accept his fate, he embarked on a weight-loss journey in August 2024, delving into the psychology behind food. He limited himself to one small meal a day, opting for sugar-free beverages, herbal teas, and water.
His staple dish was grilled cheese with pastrami, and he initially kept his daily calorie intake between 500 and 800. “I basically realised that the taste of food only last for a few seconds – if you can get over that – you realise that you don’t need to eat most of the time.”
In October 2024, Kamran embarked on a weight loss journey with the help of a weight management clinic. He was prescribed Wegovy (semaglutide), an appetite-regulating medication approved for weight loss.
Within a month, he shed an additional 14kg. His transformation has spurred him to sign up for an NHS-backed health professional course to assist others battling with weight loss.
He expresses his gratitude to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Respiratory Department and Baywater Heathcare, crediting their oxygen therapy for saving his life. Now, he’s focused on losing as much weight as possible.
“I know what works and what doesn’t, dieting does not work – you need a total change in your mindset” he declared. He claims his hunger pangs have vanished and he consumes minimal calories, sometimes as low as 100 per day.
While his weight loss has eased physical discomfort and even shrunk his shoe size by two, his methods are not endorsed by most public health bodies. Medical professionals warn against extreme calorie restriction and rapid weight loss, as a diet of just 100 calories a day can lead to severe deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.
This can result in fatigue, muscle loss, weakened immunity, impaired organ function, irregular heart rhythms, and increased risk of heart problems.
For those looking to shed pounds, the NHS advises a steady weight reduction pace of about 0.5 to 1kg weekly as the path to sustainable and healthful outcomes. Echoing this, Kamran remarked: “People don’t understand how bad it is to live with obesity, but diets don’t work – you have to completely change everything.”
