NALCHILK, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia — A 9-year-old boy named Dzhambik Khatokhov (known as Jambik) weighs 324 pounds, is five-feet 2-inches tall and sets the world record for the Fattest child.At birth Jambik weighed 6lb 6oz - a reasonable amount for a baby - but by his first birthday he was more than two stone.
At just three years old Jambik was lifting weights as heavy as 2st 7lb. At four he had ballooned to 8st 11lb, even though he was just 3ft 11in, and at six he was 15st 7lb. Since then Jambik has gained nearly eight stone more on a diet of porridge and ice cream.
British doctor Ian Campbell - who spent a week studying the family two years ago - said: “Jambik’s health is dire. “His weight means he has a greatly increased risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease. His body mass index works out at an extremely unhealthy 56.8. Most under- tens have a BMI of under 20.
But his mother Nelya, 42, doesn’t share the concerns. “He is just growing — upwards and outwards,” she said. “What can I do about it? This is who he is, this is how God created him.”Jambik, who practises his wrestling five days a week and also goes swimming, said: “I want to be a sportsman when I grow up. Or better, an Olympic champion. I like to be strong.”
His wrestling coach, Khasan Teusvazhukov, 48, struggles to find fighting partners for Jambik, as other boys his age weigh as little as five stone.
He said: “We accepted him to the training as the medical check-up did not show any problems, but of course it is difficult for us to train him. He usually does running and gymnastics but I do not give him full exercises. He won’t be able to do most of these anyway because of his size.”
Even at his young age, Jambik faces a barrage of health problems. Obese youngsters risk an early onset of arthritis, especially in the knees, which makes an active life very difficult. Diabetes is a threat too, because he won’t be able to produce enough insulin.
Blood pressure and cholesterol also soar, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke. And there are other possible complications including blood clots, gallstones and breathing difficulties, plus depression due to poor self-image. Not surprisingly, very obese children have a much shorter life expectancy - anyone with a BMI over 45 can expect to live 20 years less than slimmer people.
The only way to tackle his problem is a strict regime of exercise and calorie restriction.
