Former 'World's Fattest Boy' Is Completely Unrecognizable After Losing Half His Weight

A young boy, once labeled 'the world's fattest boy,' has undergone a remarkable transformation, shedding an incredible amount of weight and vastly improving his health and lifestyle.

Arya Permana, originally from West Java in Indonesia, reached a peak weight of 190 kg (419 lbs) when he was just nine years old, but today, he is almost unrecognizable from his former self. 

Arya embarked on a comprehensive weight loss journey that included surgery, followed by a rigorous regimen of diet and exercise, which led to him losing half of his body weight—a whopping 110 kg.

By the age of 14, Arya had changed so drastically that he bore little resemblance to the young boy he once was.

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His daily routine before his transformation involved consuming five meals a day, each large enough to feed two adults.

Such excessive eating severely affected his mobility and daily activities.

Arya's weight made it impossible for him to bathe normally, necessitating the use of a specially constructed outdoor pool for washing.

Rokayah, Arya's mother, recognized that her son's weight was spiraling out of control when he was around eight years old.

She recounted to the BBC that Arya would often become distressed and inconsolable if he didn't get the foods he wanted, such as noodles, meatball soup, and porridge.

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By the time Arya was nine, he was unable to walk to school, and by ten, he couldn't even leave the house due to his size.

Determined to help her son, Rokayah initiated a weight loss diet for Arya, and he subsequently underwent bariatric surgery.

This procedure drastically reduces the size of the stomach and is often used in severe cases to help with weight loss.

Post-surgery, Arya started a structured weight loss regimen with the support of professional bodybuilder Ade Rai, who took a personal interest in Arya's journey.

Rai shared with the Jakarta Post: 

Arya being interviewed by the BBC. BBC

"I only support him. He likes sports. When he was still very fat he liked soccer.

"The kind of support that I can give him is to share with his parents about the importance of keeping to a good diet and their motivation to support Arya.

"Arya is now a symbol of hope. People now say: 'Even Arya can lose weight, so why can't I?'"

Now an active teenager, Arya enjoys participating in various sports, including playing badminton with his friends.

His transformation has been so profound that he has posed next to a cardboard cutout of his heavier self to highlight just how much he has changed.

A teenage Arya poses alongside a life size cutout of himself at his heaviest. Jefri Tarigan/Future Publishing via Getty Images

However, despite his significant weight loss, Arya has been left with excessive skin folds due to his previous size.

Plans are underway for further surgery to remove this excess skin, which will help complete his physical transformation.

Arya's journey from being the "world's fattest boy" to an active, healthier teenager is not just a personal victory; it's an inspiring story of resilience and determination that has resonated with people around the world, offering hope and motivation to others facing similar challenges.