Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, who was once believed to be the world’s heaviest woman, has died in hospital shortly after her 37th birthday.

Ms Ahmed had a rare thyroid condition which drastically affected her metabolism, with a series of knock-on effects on her heart, kidneys and respiratory system.

Ms Ahmed had travelled to Mumbai for treatment from her home in Egypt in February this year.

She weighed 504kg when she was admitted to the hospital, but had apparently lost over 250kg after extensive surgery.

Before treatment, her family said she had been unable to leave the house for 25 years.

She underwent bariatric surgery - which often involves the fitting of a gastric band or the removal of a portion of the stomach - and was put on a liquid diet.

Ms Ahmed was later transferred to Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi after disagreements between the family and staff at Saifee hospital in Mumbai over the cost of treatment and the amount of weight she had actually lost while she was an inpatient.

A team of 20 specialists were assigned to her care, and further operations were planned for later in the year.

However, on Friday her condition deteriorated dramatically and hospital staff said she died on Monday.