In order to better serve his Dawson electorate and avoid a by-election, Federal MP George Christensen has undergone a sleeve gastrectomy.
The Liberal National backbencher said on his Facebook page on Tuesday night he is recovering after having 85 per cent of his stomach removed in a bid to lose more than half his 175.9-kilogram pre-surgery weight.
"Now I can only eat small portions not exceeding about five semi-heaped tablespoons of food at any given time," Mr Christensen says in the post, which features of photo of him in a hospital bed.
"It's radical but good health is worth it and I have not been the picture of good health in a long time."
He said he has already lost 5kg and his healthy weight should be about 80kg.
The MP said he feared his obesity would trigger a by-election and urged Australians to avoid unhealthy lifestyles.
"Can I encourage those who find themselves putting on weight, particularly at a younger age, to do something about the problem now rather than reaching the point I did where it was near past no return in terms of sorting it out by exercise and diet."
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