Eman Abd El Aty: 7 months’ treatment journey ends in Abu Dhabi

CAIRO – 25 September 2017: Who would’ve expected that after nearly a year in hospitals under extensive care, Egyptian national Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, also known as the world’s heaviest woman, would die after losing 400KG of weight?

Everyone following Abd El Aty’s health for the past seven months woke up on Monday with shocking news of her death due to complications from heart disease and kidney dysfunction, according to Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Hospital Executive Manager Yassin el-Shahat.


Eman Ibrahim- File Photo


How did it all start?

Abd El Aty had a rare condition. Since her childhood, she suffered from an unknown disease causing her to become overweight, reaching 500 kilograms and subsequently paralyzed. According to her family, she was unable to leave her home for around 11 years.

Last year, Eman’s sister, Shimaa, wrote a post on her Facebook page talking about her sister’s rare condition. Unexpectedly, several Facebook users and activists shared the post and reacted widely to it.

On February, she started her treatment by traveling to Mumbai, India, where Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala promised to do his best.

Abd El Aty travelled on a specially modified plane to undergo emergency weight-loss surgery.

Shortly after arriving in the Indian Saifee hospital, media outlets reported that she would be on her way to losing the title of the heaviest woman alive.

According to Times of India, in March, a prescribed liquid diet and some physiotherapy helped Abd El Aty reduce her weight by getting rid of any extra water in her body.


Eman Ibrahim- File Photo


Moving to Abu Dhabi

In May, Abd El Aty travelled to Abu Dhabi to continue her treatment. After the first round of surgeries, the 37-year-old woman was seen sitting up and smiling while listening to music and using the TV remote control provided by the hospital, according to Abu Dhabi news outlets.

Announcing that she lost 250 kilos, the doctors commented, "She looks a happier and a slimmer version of her past self. She can finally fit into a wheelchair and sit for a longer period of time, something we never dreamt of three months back."

A press conference was held in Abu Dhabi, July 24, to present the recent developments in Abd El Aty’s health condition, and the conference was attended by the Egyptian Ambassador in the Emirates, Dr. Shamshir Fayal, the supervisor of her treatment; and Dr. Yassin Ibrahim.

Abd El Aty herself attended the conference proving her stable health condition.

“The patient now eats her food by herself, and her body is functioning normally,” said Dr. Ibrahim during the press conference, adding that “she is undergoing physiotherapy and she can talk normally now.”

Despite the intensive care that Abd El Aty was placed under, she was pronounced dead Monday morning at a hospital in Abu Dhabi due to complications from heart disease and kidney dysfunction. The Egyptian national was under the supervision of a medical team consisting of 20 doctors.