World's heaviest teen loses 50kg in three weeks

September 11, 2013

Riyadh, Sep 11: A Saudi, the world's heaviest teenager, has lost nearly 50kg since he was moved out of his bedroom to hospital by an army of nurses and civil defence men using a massive crane and a special medical bed imported for him from the United States.

Khaled Al Shaeri weighed a massive 610kg when he arrived in hospital in the Saudi capital in Riyadh but his weight has now dropped to around 560 kg, doctors said.

“His condition is steadily improving and he is now better accepting treatment. We have already prepared a medical and psychological programme for him and hope he will continue to improve,” said Dr Ayed Al Qahtani, who is supervising Shaeri's treatment.

He said more than 15 doctors and nurses have been appointed for the treatment of Shaeri to ensure efficient treatment and avert any skin problems because of his weight.

Doctors treating Al Shaeri at a specialized government hospital in Riyadh on orders by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz have said they aim to reduce his weight by an average 15kg a month over the next three years.

More than 50 civil defence and medical staff members joined hands in late August to transfer Shaeri out of his house in the southern province of Jazan to hospital in Riyadh, using a huge medical bed and crane imported for him from the United States.

“I am optimistic that I will get better. I hope I will be able to stand on my feet and walk again,” Shaeri said after he was admitted to hospital.

Shaeri, aged below 16 years, is the heaviest teen ager in the world, although some newspapers describe him as the heaviest man.

King Abdullah, 89, has intervened and ordered the immediate treatment of Shaeri at King Fahd Medical City in the capital after the boy emerged in local newspapers to appeal for Royal help following difficulties in his breathing system.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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