Stomach surgery helps man lose weight — a lot of it

He had eczema in his armpits and felt pain and itch all the time. His knee-joints and heels were swollen and inhibited walking. And he had difficulty breathing.

When he was first taken to hospital in October, he was given medication to reduce his blood sugar and cholesterol, and he dieted for 17 days before the surgery. All that combined to help him to lose 28 kg before gastrointestinal surgery on Nov 8.

After discussions and examinations by the medical team, Zhang was given a sleeve gastrectomy, which removes 75 to 80 percent of a patient's stomach.

After 48 days of multiple treatments, he had lost 50 kg and can now lie down to sleep.