Fat Guy On Hunger Strike Because Gov’t Won’t Fund Weightloss Surgery

By: Laura Meyers

A few years ago, the Hostess brand went under and Twinkies nearly went extinct until Wal-Mart, of course, bought the company out (‘Murica). That was the only time in history I would ever support a government bailout.

Jason Patterson would probably agree.

Patterson is a 280 pound man who is on a hunger strike until the federal government of New Zealand agrees to fund his weight-loss surgery.

So far, he’s been on strike for five days.

“The first two to three days are really hard,” he says. “I’m in this 100 percent now.”

Patterson wants a gastric bypass and hernia surgery covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), who has declined his requests until he loses 50 kilograms (or 110 pounds).

He has made video diaries and created a fundraising website in an effort to raise awareness of his cause.

Patterson says his hunger strike is a way to prove his commitment to his health.

“It’s just to show how serious I am about getting the weight loss surgery that I need.”

The ACC says it has provided Patterson with several options to help lose weight, like visiting a dietician and psychologist to support his wellbeing, but cannot accept his “obesity” claims for admission to fund his bypass surgery.

“I was hoping that they were going to give me the full package of the surgery to move on so I could come to Rotorua, train here and get my life back together.”

Patterson says he is going to stay on strike until Thursday, and if the ACC still refuses his claim, he’ll take his cause to the ACC headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand.