A GROSSLY obese father is struggling to make ends meet after being classed as too fat to work by doctors.
Weighing in at a life-threatening 30 stone, Barry Fowers, of Field Avenue, Hatton, suffers from heart problems, diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — all related to his huge size.
The 51-year-old worked until October last year as an assembler fitter for a Burton-based company.
Mr Fowers said: “Because I was having a lot of time off for medical reasons, I was edged towards voluntary redundancy.”
His wife, Shirley, who is vice-chairman of Hatton Parish Council, said: “One of the main reasons he volunteered to take the pay-off was because he was classed as a potential danger to himself.
“Also, he was a potential risk to his work colleagues in case he fell on them.
For the past six months, Mr Fowers has been getting by on £65.45 a week in Jobseeker’s Allowance.
However as of August 24, he has been informed his allowance will be reduced to £21.65, as he is only entitled to 186 days of national insurance.
Mrs Fowers, a home care assistant, said: “I can’t afford to keep him.
“I may as well pack my husband’s bags and chuck him on the street.” Mr Fowers is currently seeking work, but has had no response from the job applications he has filled in.
He said: “Some of the applications asked ‘have you got medical conditions’ and I’ve filled it in that I’ve got a heart condition and diabetes, and that does go against me.
“It does get you down. I have tried dieting, exercising and lifestyle changes.
“I have been offered the possibility of having a gastric band or bypass fitted but I’m a bit dubious about surgery.
“With my heart condition I think if I went under the knife I might not wake up.
“The more overweight you are the higher the risk is of you developing these conditions.”
