Arya Permana, 13, originally from Indonesia, was considered the world’s heaviest child just a few years ago. His diet consisted mainly of instant noodles, soda, and fried chicken—high in calories but extremely unhealthy.
As a result, by the age of 10, his weight had reached an incredible 191.9 kilograms.
Because of his severe obesity, it was extremely difficult for the boy to move—even walking five meters was a real challenge. Arya had to be homeschooled because he couldn’t get to school on his own.
Most alarmingly, his obesity was life-threatening: his heart, lungs, and joints were under enormous strain.
Doctors made a bold decision—to perform bariatric surgery. Arya became the youngest patient to undergo this type of surgery.
The surgery, coupled with a strict diet including fish, vegetables, and fruit, produced amazing results: the boy lost 106 kilograms. Today, he weighs 85.8 kilograms, and it has completely changed his life.9
Now, Arya can not only walk, but even go for morning jogs—something that once seemed completely impossible. He’s back in touch with his friends, making plans, and dreaming about the future.*
However, the journey to a full life isn’t over yet: after such a dramatic weight loss, large folds of skin have appeared on Arya’s body.
His new goal is surgery to remove the excess skin to complete this incredible transformation, which has inspired thousands of people around the world.
