Extreme Makeover: obese dad Tony drops from 398lbs to 198lbs

He describes how his weight spiralled out of control as a teen when he overate frequently because he never knew where his next meal would come from. The stress of the birth of a severely handicapped son at 21 saw him seek further comfort in food.

Tragically, it is during his very first workout with host and mentor Chris Powell that Tony learns son Marcus, after 28 years with cerebral palsy, may not live much longer.

But though he breaks down as he takes in the devastating news, he refuses to be swayed from his goal and continues undeterred with his new regime.

Tony’s challenges do not end there. His efforts to lose weight spark rows with his fiancée Leslie, who cannot embrace his new healthy-living lifestyle.

But where others in his position might have sought comfort in junk food, or slipped into a deep depression, Tony’s dogged refusal to give up is nothing short of inspirational.

At his nine-month weigh-in, our man is back on track, weighing in at 226lbs. The show awards him with a cash prize for getting so far, which provides him with the means to rent a home again.

Luckily for Tony, the journey documented on the show ends on a high. Not only does he successfully reach his weight-loss goal of 200lbs, he also finds a new love, Deanna, who he proposes to at the end of the episode.

Since the taping, he has kept his weight down too. In a follow-up interview he reveals that though he continues to work in the food industry, he has not touched fast food in two years.

He is even working on a cookbook of the low-calorie recipes he credits with helping him drop the weight.

‘My favourite is the low-fat mac’n’cheese. But to get that,’ he quips, ‘you have to buy the book!’

Chris could not be more proud of Tony, as he reveals in a video message.

‘I gotta tell you it was such a privilege working with you last year,’ he says. ‘You brought so much enthusiasm and vigour… you’re proof that it’s never too late to start over.’

Tony, in turn, is full of praise for Chris, who he credits with helping him achieve what he thought was impossible.

‘I never had guys in my life who cared about me, and for Chris to step up the way he did for me is just amazing,’ he says.