I have this friend who is about 350lbs and 6ft 2". (i think... these are estimates as my memory is a little bad sometimes.. but i know he's around this weight and height.)

Anyways... He comes across to everyone else as being a reallly happy, bubbly kind of person, but he has confided to me that infact he is not happy at all. He's about 25years old and hasn't had much luck with women and is generally not happy. It doesn't help that the cirlce of mates he hangs around with are a lot thinner then him and manage to attract women (or men in my case. hehe)

I know that deep down he really wants to loose weight and be like they are because he mentioned it once to me when we were getting drunk one night after work... he just doesn't have the self confidence or determination to start because the goals seem so far off.

I know that you can't physically force someone to go on a diet, but i was wondering if anyone had any ideas of how i can almost help him start without him knowing what im doing? Coz if the weight starts dropping off i think it might make him carry on. I really want to help him.

You could always ask him if he wants to work out with you. Going for a walk even or making a healthier restaurant choice when going out. You can't make this person change, but you can be a positive influence instead of a negative one.

Ive asked him if he wants to, but the gym that i go to is pretty expensive if you aren't a student and he doesn't want to have to pay that much to go to it.

I can't really ask him to come running with me because he lives far away from me...he would have to take a drive just to come running.

It's very frustrating... because i know that he could do it if he just put his mind to it.