Charity Pierce, One of World's Heaviest Women, Dies at 353 kg
Taking even a few steps was a real challenge for Charity Pierce
According to statistics, every eighth person in the world suffers from obesity. But for some, it«s just a few extra kilos due to remote work and love for pasta and pies, while for others, the situation looks critical. One such person was Charity Pierce. In 2013, she participated in a weight-loss show, and her weight was then 353 kilograms (778 pounds).
I Can Never Get Full
Charity was never thin. She grew up in a dysfunctional family where she constantly witnessed violence and cruelty. The only thing she could do without fear of punishment was eat at night when everyone was asleep and couldn«t stop her.
— I had a difficult childhood. My father drank a lot. I was afraid of him. I remember hiding before he came home; he would throw dishes from the sideboard and slap me on the back of the head. At that time, my life consisted only of fear. Every evening when he fell asleep, I would sneak into the kitchen and comfort myself with food, — Charity recalled on the show «I Weigh 300 Kg» (18+).
Even after Pierce grew up and moved away from her family, the craving for food didn«t go away. Every problem and failure she would comfort eat with a burger or fatty potatoes. It didn»t matter if she lost her job, found out her mom had cancer, or was left alone with a child — food became the means to avoid falling into despair.
— I eat too much. I can never get full, — the American woman admitted.
By age 39, her weight reached a critical mark — 353 kilograms (778 pounds). Additional problems came from non-healing ulcers on her body and lymphedema, which caused huge tumors.
Lymphedema is a disease where fluid accumulates in tissues, causing persistent swelling in the legs or arms.
— I use a portable toilet because a regular toilet simply can«t support my weight, — Pierce said with tears in her eyes.
I«m Ashamed of My Body
Charity contacted the project creators in 2012. She said that due to her illnesses, she could hardly do anything on her own.
— I«m ashamed of my body. I don»t want anyone to see it. I«m too different from others, and it embarrasses me. I know I look like a freak. Inside, I»m a normal person, but when I look in the mirror, I see a monster. I«d rather die than live like this, — Pierce cried out for help.
During the filming of the program, it turned out that the situation was so advanced that Charity couldn«t come to the appointment on her own like other heroines. She needed to call an ambulance and a team of doctors who put her on a gurney and took her to the clinic.
The option where the heroine only comes for an appointment every few months, living the rest of the time in a separate rental house or apartment with loved ones, was also excluded. Pierce was immediately hospitalized and put on a strict diet — 1,000 calories a day and no sweets or flour. All so that in a short time she could lose 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and qualify for stomach reduction surgery.
— The only thing that can save my life — is gastric bypass surgery. But I«m a single mother on disability, and I have no one to rely on but myself, — she repeated to herself to avoid breaking down.
Charity dreamed of losing weight not only for herself. She wanted to eventually marry her 20-year-old boyfriend, who had cared for her for many years.
— I want to be able to walk down the aisle, — Charity told of her cherished desire.
After two months in the hospital, the program«s heroine managed to lose the necessary kilograms, and she successfully underwent the operation. But it was only the beginning of the journey. Doctors directed her to recover and continue losing another 20 kilograms (44 pounds) to get rid of excess skin.
At home, Charity struggled to incorporate new eating habits into her life. During filming, terrible news hit the woman — her mother, who had been sick with cancer for a long time, died. As she had all her life, to somehow cope with grief, Pierce started eating again.
— I cope with temptation when everything is good. But now it«s too hard. I can»t imagine how I can change everything. I want to keep losing weight, but at the moment it«s very difficult, — Pierce justified her relapses.
Despite the grief, the heroine still managed to pull herself together and lost weight — though only 8 kilograms (18 pounds). After that, she underwent surgery, had 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of fatty tumors removed, and was sent on her own.
I Found Out I Have Kidney Cancer
After the project, weighing only about 200 kilograms (441 pounds), Charity hoped to improve and strengthen her personal life, but instead she had a new shock — her young suitor left her for her own sister. As before, stress pushed Pierce toward food. She didn«t give in to the temptation, but she didn»t find a safe alternative to endless snacking either. Instead, she turned to alcohol.
Due to alcohol dependence, her relationship with her only daughter deteriorated, who had lived with her and helped until Pierce couldn«t take care of herself.
In 2020, Charity wrote in her blog that she had gotten cancer:
— At Christmas, I found out I have kidney cancer. It shocked me because my mom died from brain cancer. Since Christmas, I«ve been experiencing severe anxiety and often faint. The next step was to remove my kidney as soon as possible before the disease spread to other organs.
In the spring, Charity underwent surgery to remove her kidney and started treatment. Due to the illness, she lost a lot of weight and weighed about 100 kilograms (220 pounds). This time became a turning point in her life: she was able to reconcile with her daughter, who had recently given birth to a child.
In her last years, Charity was most often with her grandson, to whom she wanted to give all the love she hadn«t received herself. At the end of January, Pierce»s daughter announced that her mother had died.
— I wasn«t going to write about this. But from calls and messages, my head is spinning. Almost all close relatives know that my mom died today. She»s now with her mom, brother, and sister and has finally found peace. Mom, fly high. I hope you know how much I love you and how grateful I am to have been with you when you took your last breath, — Charlie Jo wrote on her social media.
