NEW YORK: Anyone who feels they need to shed a few kilos might want to consider the efforts of New Yorker Michael Hebranko, who has lost a quarter of ton since vowing to battle the bulge.

Hebranko, who has been in a New York City medical facility for more than a year, was awarded a medal for his feat on Wednesday after dropping from more than 450 kilos at one point to his current weight of 207 kilos. “I thank God for every day I'm alive,” Hebranko told the New York Daily News, recounting his regime of a 1,400-calorie diet and moderate exercise.

“The biggest battle is in my head,” he said. “I don't feel full when I eat.” “My whole life I've searched for satisfaction from food,” he told the newspaper. “I've learned the satisfaction I'm searching for isn't in food. I get satisfaction from family and friends.”—AFP