That poor girl. It looks like she's been on the talk show circuit since she was 3, though, and her mom just let her keep eating!
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/entertai...128698,00.html
Morrow:
'Maury' updates Petros girl's story
By TERRY MORROW,
[email protected]
November 9, 2006
Talk-show host Maury Povich is getting a huge amount of credit for helping a Petros resident shed more than 250 pounds.
Jessica Leonard of Petros, who is 9 years old, has weighed more than 400 pounds. But after sticking with a plan of mainly diet and exercise, she is now a slimmer 140.
Povich provided Jessica with nutrition experts and other medical personnel who helped with her condition.
Jessica's mother, Susan Gouge, will be a guest on "Maury" at 4 p.m. Friday on WTNZ, Channel 43, to talk about her daughter's progress. At the time of the taping, Jessica was in the hospital.
This is Jessica's second time on the show. When she was 4 years old, she weighed 200 pounds and was a guest. A rep for "Maury" says Jessica turned down an offer to talk about her weight on "Oprah."
In a press statement from the show, Jessica's mom is quoted as saying: "Thank you for all of the help that you gave us. We wanted to say a special thanks to you (Maury) for bringing us this far and she wouldn't be here today without you."
According to "Maury" reps, Jessica is currently in a hospital in Virginia, recovering from surgeries related to her previous weight complications.
She has an overlap of skin that occurs when someone loses a considerable amount of weight.
She has also had problems with her legs and feet. "She is extremely bowlegged and is going to have to have some surgeries to straighten those legs," says her mother.
Despite these challenges, Jessica's mom tells Povich she is grateful the girl is on the right track.