Extremely heavy and overweight people have appeared throughout history. First-century Roman physician Galen refers to Nicomachus of Smyrna, who was bedridden because of his weight. A wall relief from the ancient Egyptian site at Karnak near Luxor includes an obese man with folds of fat. And based on statues like The Venus of Willendorf, we can assume that humans have been overweight since prehistoric times as well.
That said, over the past century, there has been a significant increase in public interest surrounding hugely obese people. And for this, we can mainly thank the media - whether it be sensationalist coverage and public weigh-ins, or the pressures of staying thin put so prominently in our faces. Read on for the 10 heaviest people in recorded history.