Coming up on
3rd Degree:
Episode: The Story of BIG G
Broadcast date: 17 February 2009 at 21h30
Channel: e.tv
This Tuesday 3rd Degree looks at the story of South Africa’s largest man, Gordon Hartley. Weighing 350 kilograms, Gordon is morbidly obese. His intake of food is enough to feed a family of five and doctors have said that he only has five years to live unless drastic action is taken.
He is in desperate need of gastric bypass surgery, a procedure that will reduce his stomach to the size of an egg, but as yet his medical aid has to come on board.
This documentary explores Gordon’s struggle to overcome his compulsion for food and his pressing need to survive.
Almost fifty percent of adults and twenty-five percent of children in SA are affected by obesity. With such alarming figures, the country is on a par with countries such as the USA and Canada. Obese people are high-risk candidates for diabetes and heart disease.
Third Degree speaks to medical experts about this alarming health crisis sweeping our nation and hears first hand stories from survivors who dramatically lost weight after undergoing gastric bypass operations.
3rd Degree is on e.tv on Tuesdays at 21h30.