'World's heaviest woman' Eman Ahmed reaches Abu Dhabi, admitted in Burjeel Hospital for further treatment

New Delhi: What should have been a smooth journey, became a bumpy ride for 36-year-old Eman Ahmed.

Once the 'world's heaviest woman', Eman left Mumbai's Saifee Hospital on Thursday – over 300 kg lighter than what she was – for Abu Dhabi amidst huge controversy.

Her departure from India didn't turn out too well, either, after Eman's sister Shaimaa Semil refused to sign some legal clause. The Times of India (TOI) reported that the argument between Shaimaa and Saifee got to a point when VPS Healthcare's Bhurjeel Hospital team, who were taking her to UAE, said they'd take Eman without signing the papers.

Now, at 176 kg post her treatment in India, the Egyptian national has reached Abu Dhabi and has been admitted into the Burjeel Hospital there to continue her treatment.

More than 500 kg before surgery, she suffers from a range of health problems including elephantiasis, a condition that causes the limbs and other body parts to swell.

Abd El Aty was put on a special liquid diet in India to reduce her weight enough so that doctors could perform bariatric surgery – a stomach-shrinking bypass procedure is increasingly common in India, which has a growing problem with obesity.

She arrived in India on a specially-modified Airbus plane in February and has now shed an astonishing 323 kilograms in three months.

She will now begin a year-long course of physiotherapy at VPS Burjeel hospital in Abu Dhabi, her doctors in Mumbai said.

"We have arranged for a hydraulic stretcher from Italy for Eman's journey and she will have doctors, paramedics and nurses with her during the journey," Sanet Meyer, director of medevac at VPS Burjeel, told AFP ahead of the trip.

UAE newspapers reported that Abd El Aty's sister Shaima had disagreed with how the Indian medical team were proceeding with the treatment.

"I asked for help (in the Emirates) after noticing the lack of progress," she said on yesterday.

Abd El Aty had not left her home in Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Alexandria for two decades until her arrival in India.

Her family told doctors that she was diagnosed as a child with elephantiasis, leaving her almost immobile.

Abd El Aty has suffered a stroke and faced a series of other serious ailments owing to her weight including diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension and sleep deprivation.

She is unable to speak properly and is partially paralysed.

India is a major destination for medical tourists seeking quality services and no waiting lists at a fraction of the cost of western countries.

In July last year, the Guinness Book of World Records recorded American Pauline Potter as the world's heaviest woman at 293 kilos, well above Abd El Aty's current weight.

(With PTI inputs)