Overview
- Family and treating physician José Antonio Castañeda confirmed Franco died on December 29 in Aguascalientes at age 41.
- Castañeda said a renal infection progressed to systemic complications while Franco was hospitalized.
- Franco gained international attention after Guinness recognized him in 2017 as the heaviest living man at about 595 kilograms.
- Under Castañeda’s bariatric care, he followed a Mediterranean-style diet and underwent sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, reducing roughly 49% of his initial weight and reaching about 190 kilograms by 2024.
- His case, which included diabetes, hypertension, lymphatic issues and chronic pulmonary disease and a 2020 COVID-19 recovery, was cited by his doctor as evidence that severe obesity is multifactorial and requires coordinated, stigma-free care.