Katie Price on ‘critical’ battle to get 182kg son Harvey the help he needs

In a heartbreaking interview, Katie Price opens up about the weight battle “killing” her 182kg son Harvey: “It’s a cruel illness.”

She has fiercely protected her son for his whole life — and Katie Price isn’t about to give up now.

Within two months, disabled Harvey has piled on almost 12.7 kgs and is now tipping the scales at 182kg.

His obsession with food is linked to his disabilities — which make him always feel hungry.

It became so bad that Katie was recently forced to beg fans for help in finding a treadmill and rowing machine in a desperate bid to get her son exercising during lockdown.

Now, in a heartbreaking interview, the model mum reveals doctors have warned that the battle to keep Harvey alive is “critical” — as he could drop dead from a heart attack if he doesn’t lose weight urgently.

Katie Price's son Harvey recently turned 18.

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Katie, 42, has warned her son of the dangers of overeating.

She has been forced to padlock the family fridge to stop him bingeing in the night and also has to lock the kitchen cupboards.

It is fair to say Katie has struggled to cope in lockdown with the teenager, who is autistic and struggles with the excessive appetite caused by his genetic condition ­Prader-Willi Syndrome.

It can impact muscle tone and functions of the nervous system and sparks the constant desire to eat.

“It’s a cruel illness. He feels hungry all the time,” she told The Sun.

“Every time I feed him, it’s killing him.

“Even though it makes him happy, it’s cruel of me to do it.

“He needs to lose weight or he’ll end up dead. He doesn’t deserve that. I don’t want to lose him.

“He’s only 18, he’s got his whole life ahead of him. I will do anything to help.”

‘HE’LL SMASH THINGS UP IF YOU SAY NO’

Katie Price and son Harvey: “It’s a cruel illness.”

Despite Katie doing her best to limit her son’s food intake, Harvey turns violent when he doesn’t get what he wants.

She explains: “It’s a cruel and horrible illness where he feels hungry all the time — and if he doesn’t get food he gets angry. It’s hard work.

“He’ll smash things up if you say no. I’ve had to re-plaster my walls because he’ll bash holes in them with his head.

“He knows what nice things taste of. I’ll give him sweet potato chips instead of real fries but he knows the difference.

“It’s not what he eats in the day, it’s what he eats when I don’t see him. I’ve tried hiding food but he’ll find it.

“You can’t leave food or leftovers on the side or he’ll eat it, and he’s really quick too.

“He even eats in his sleep. He’ll walk downstairs and eat whatever he can find.

“We’ve even found him rummaging through friends’ bags for food.”

The worried mum begged her Instagram followers for gym equipment that will carry his weight after lockdown forced gyms to close.

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Price with Harvey as a young child.

Katie needs to take drastic action as her son is unable to leave the house due to the pandemic.

Vulnerable Harvey was admitted to hospital in July with breathing problems and a high temperature.

Katie was told he was at risk of organ failure and a coma, and feared he was having a heart attack.

Harvey did not test positive for COVID-19, but spent ten days in intensive care due to the “complex” nature of his medical needs.

He has been known to steal pizzas at home and eat them from frozen.

Katie explains: “I tell him he’ll die and he says, ‘No, don’t be silly, Mummy’s only joking’.

“He doesn’t understand. He’s always been a big boy, always been chubby, but now it’s ridiculous.

“His clothes are 7XL, there are only two shops on the internet where I can get clothes for him.

‘THE DAMAGE IS DONE’

“He walks up the stairs and he’s sweating and out of breath.

“I’m really upset and worried about Harvey’s weight because now it’s on, the damage is done.

“People say to me, ‘Why don’t you just not let him eat?’ but they don’t understand.

“He’ll smash things or headbutt the walls if I say no to him.

“But there is no time to wait, he has to lose weight now.”

Price has raised Harvey as a single mum. Picture: Rex Features / Splash News

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But she is now doing everything in her power to change frog-obsessed Harvey’s fate.

She plans to paint the gym equipment green to encourage him to use it so she doesn’t lose him.

Katie adds: “We need to do exercise slowly and properly because even that could kill him.

“I need to buy two seats on planes and the seat belts in cars don’t fit him anymore —- we need an extender belt.

“He can’t bend down to put his clothes on as he gets out of breath and sweats so much.”

‘I PLAY THE MUM AND DAD ROLE TO HIM’

Katie — who is learning to walk again after breaking both her feet in an accident on holiday six months ago — is also fighting on Harvey’s behalf to take down sick online trolls.

She has stepped up her bid to get Harvey’s Law introduced after a vile clip of a man in black make-up pretending to be Harvey and a woman posing as her appeared on Twitter.

An emotional Katie says: “They pick up on him because he’s black, obese and has disabilities.

“I play the mum and dad role to him, so I am protective. He is a unique child and he’s very special.

“I’ll do anything for my Harvey.” Picture: Rex Features / Splash

Price says she’s fiercely protective of her son.

“Harvey is harmless, he’s innocent and he loves everyone.

“If they met him they’d love him. He’d just say hello and want to talk to them.

“I need to ensure that people don’t get away with this and it stops now.

“I’m prepared to take it all the way to court. It’s disgusting and it really upsets me.”

The mum of five says her next eldest children — whose dad is ex-husband Peter Andre — have been devastated by the abuse and forced to defend their brother online.

Katie adds: “Junior and Princess are so protective of Harvey. They can’t understand why people are so horrible and they keep saying to me, ‘We’re so normal, why do we deserve to be mocked?’

“I want people to know they can face prison because of their abuse on social media.

“It’s so hard and heartbreaking, but I’ll do anything for my Harvey.”

Katie has just finished filming an eye-opening documentary, Katie Price: Harvey And Me, to show how they live with his condition.

She says her fans will be shocked after only ever showing his “fun” side and not the true struggles.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.