The former world's fattest man has denied he is a scrounger as he is set to return to the UK to receive £100,000 of NHS care - as the US won't pay for his treatment.
Paul Mason moved to the US five years ago seeking a new life, after an NHS stomach operation helped him to slim down from 70st to 19st.
However, the 58-year-old's weight soon started to balloon again, following a split from his America girlfriend, with his weight creeping up to 40st.
He is set to board a flight home today and says he understands why Brits have become irritated over him coming back to the UK to receive treatment.
Mr Mason is pictured in a photograph using two walking aides, so to the fact he needs knee surgery
Mr Mason is seen in January 2017 after losing significant weight following an exercise regime
Paul Mason, who was once the world's fattest man, is pictured on ITV's This Morning in 2013 (right) and on a treadmill (left)
Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I can understand people in Britain saying, 'Why should my tax pay for him?'
'But I'm no sponger — I deserve it as much as any Brit. I contributed to society when I was working.
'We all fall apart when things get tough. Doing it over here in America has been the worst thing I could have done because there's no support. But there is in the UK.'
He reportedly needs to surgery to replace his knees, repair eight stomach hernias and adjust his bypass.
Mr Mason revealed in a Facebook post earlier this month that he plans to return to Britain soon
He also needs mobility aids as well as counselling sessions.
Despite piling on the pounds and needed counselling sessions, he said that food gives him a great feeling and described it as being 'better than sex'.
'You don't choose this lifestyle. The addiction never goes away. You don't conquer it. You can just keep it at bay.
'You know when you orgasm you get a really good strong sexual feeling? It's like that, but contentment as well.'
However Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said that bypass patients know they have to reduce their food intake and think more carefully about what they eat.
He added: 'Paul's health problems are therefore his fault. The NHS should not be forced to clean up this mess.
'It's pretty ripe of him to expect us to pick up the pieces. As far as I'm concerned when he moved to America he forfeited his right to NHS treatment.'
Mr Mason, originally from Ipswich, Suffolk, was 70 stone (445kg) at his heaviest and his battle to lose weight featured on TLC show World's Fattest Man.
But when he moved to Orange, Massachusetts, in 2014, he ballooned in size again from 19 stone (121kg) to 35 stone (222kg) despite having gastric band surgery.
After being charged with stealing from supermarket Walmart and splitting from his fiancee, he no plans to return to the UK.
He wrote on his Facebook page earlier this month: 'I need to return to the UK where I will be eligible for the assistance I need to get my life back on track.'
In recent months Mr Mason has piled the weight back on, gorging on pizza and crisps all night following the split from fiancée Rebecca Mountain last year.
He now gets around on sticks and is desperate for a double knee
