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LAKELAND, Fla., Dec 2, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Rosalie Bradford, once listed by Guinness as the world's heaviest woman, died in a Lakeland, Fla., hospital from complications of obesity at age 63.
Bradford, 63, of Auburndale, Fla., weight 1,050 pounds in January 1987, according to the 1994 edition of the Guinness Book of Records. Guinness also listed her as having lost more weight than any other woman -- 736 pounds -- weighing 314 pounds in September 1992.
On her Web site, www.rosaliebradford.com, Bradford blamed her battle with obesity on her abandonment by her mother, which led to an addiction to food. The Web site claims her peak weight exceeded 1,200 pounds, the Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger said.
Bradford, who was 5 feet, 7 inches tall, credited her drastic weight loss to Richard Simmons, the flamboyant fitness guru and television personality. The two began corresponding after a friend of Bradford's wrote Simmons about her struggle.
Bradford, who died Wednesday, is survived by her husband Robert, son and sister.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
