Teenager drops 280lb after discovering woman attempting to be world's heaviest weighed LESS than her

It is a safe assumption that a woman aspiring to be the world's heaviest would only weigh less than a handful of people.

So Natalie Strawn was devastated to learn that she was heavier than one such hopeful, who weighed 498lb.

The then 17-year-old, from Omaha, Nebraska, was 552lb and wore a size 44 jeans. But her discovery became the trigger that finally gave her the impetus to do something about her weight.



Three years on, she has shed over half her body weight - an impressive 282lb.

Slimmed-down: Natalie Strawn, 20, from Omaha, Nebraska, has lost an incredible 282lb in three years Obese: Natalie, pictured at the start of her journey, weighed 552lb at her heaviest and wore size 44 jeans

In a new interview, the now 20-year-old has explained why she believes she became so obese, and her emotional weight-loss journey.

She told Livewell Nebraska that she found comfort in food after being molested as a child.

For breakfast alone, she admitted she would eat nachos with a can of refried beans, half a bag of chips, a pound of cheddar and ranch dressing.

'I couldn't express [my feelings],' she said. 'So I ate. I'd eat anything with cheese and ranch dressing.'

By the sixth grade, Natalie weighed 400lb, and was so bullied at school, she was forced to drop out and be home-schooled instead.

A struggle with depression also contributed to her dependence on food.

'I weighed more than her. She was upset she didn't weigh more, I was upset I didn't weigh less'

'I didn't know at the time but I was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder,' she added.

Her sobering reality check came as she was watching a feature on the Tyra Banks Show about women dying to gain weight.



On learning that of the women weighed less than her, she said: 'It was a blow to the head. I weighed more than her. She was upset she didn't weigh more, and I was upset I didn't weigh less.'

Taking the first step was a huge challenge though. Nervous about the prospect of joining a local WeightWatchers group, Natalie made her mother, already a member, check that the scales went high enough to accommodate her weight, before setting foot through the door.

Reassured that they went up to 600lb, she joined the same day.

'When I first started, I honestly didn't think I could do it,' she said. 'I had to lose 380lb to be at a healthy weight range. It was a daunting task.'

Support network: Natalie pictured with her local WeightWatchers group. She told how she made her mother, already a member, check the scales would accommodate her weight, before joining

But by setting herself small goals of 15lb a month, recording her progress in a video blog, and charting her diet in a food diary, the weight started dropping off.

'I've kind of looked at it as a one decision at a time thing. Instead of, "Oh my gosh, I have to lose 300 pounds," I think of it as, "I have to lose five pounds. Then I have to lose another five pounds. And then I have to lose another five pounds,"' she told KETV Omaha 7 .

She also embraced exercise, beginning with chair aerobics, building up to daily walks. Now she has just done her first 5K run.

Her diet now contains fresh fruit and vegetables, plenty of water, and the odd treat, such as a weekly Saturday brunch date with her mother.

'When I started, I honestly didn't think I could do it. I had to lose 380lb... It was a daunting task'

'It's a treat for me, and I don't feel deprived," she said. 'It's all about moderation. I don't go hog-wild.'

Natalie's WeightWatchers leader called her an inspiration. She said: 'I tell people that I have a member who has lost 282lb. It's just very eye opening and awakening to them because they think, "If she can do it, I can do it."'

Her mother, too, is bursting with pride at her daughter's achievement.

'She is so dedicated and disciplined,' she said. 'She puts me to shame.'

Now Natalie is considering cosmetic surgery to remove the excess skin she has been left with - but not until she has lost a final 111lb to reach her goal weight.

'My thighs have so much loose skin that they rub together when I walk,' she said. 'I understand why [my surgeon] wants me to lose more because I don't want to have surgery and lose more and have to go back.'

She admits even she is in awe of what she once weighed.

