PHOTOS: Meet The World's Fattest Baby Who Weights As 6-Yr-Old

Colombia's most obese baby - who weighs the same as a six-year-old child - has been ‘rescued’ by a charity so he can undergo life-saving treatment.

Santiago Mendoza, eight months, already tips the scales at almost 20kg was
flown from his home in the northeastern city of Valledupar to the capital Bogota on Sunday.

Volunteers from Medellin-based Chubby Hearts foundation (Gorditos de Corazon) stepped in to transport the boy after his mother Eunice Fandiño wrote in asking for help.

Chubby Hearts director Salvador Palacio González said the child would be evaluated by specialist doctors at the Colina Clinic.

Medics will then try to bring his weight down to a manageable level before submitting him to a series of operations.

"Likely, what the boy will need is a long-term treatment, education, healthy food, and when he is older physical activity,

Otherwise, in the future, he could suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and severe problems with his joints," the surgeon said.

Fandiño revealed that she was practically confined to her home as the baby was ‘too heavy’ to take out and about.

But she added that she was ‘optimistic’ about the help she was receiving and has promised to follow the instructions she's given by doctors.