At just 27 years old, Justin’s life had become a prison of his own making. At 683 pounds, he was unable to venture beyond the walls of his home, his days spent moving between his room, the kitchen, and the bathroom.
His interactions with the outside world were limited to delivery drivers, who brought him the meals that both comforted and trapped him. A skilled web designer, Justin worked from home, earning enough money to sustain his habits. But his income only fed his dependence on food, locking him in a destructive cycle of overeating and weight gain.
Justin’s relationship with food was shaped by a challenging childhood. His parents’ constant fighting and lack of emotional care left him seeking refuge in the one thing he could control—his meals. Left alone for long stretches, food became his only companion.
When Justin moved in with his father and stepmother, they tried to regulate his eating, but their strict measures backfired. The more they restricted him, the more obsessed he became with food. By 18, his weight had already climbed to 330 pounds.
College, which should have been a time of growth and independence, only exacerbated his struggles. With no one to set boundaries, Justin indulged without limits, leading to rapid and uncontrollable weight gain. Each year, he added nearly 44 pounds, pushing him further into isolation and worsening his health.
