Hello Susannah,
Regarding your comments on the Carol Yager talk page:
I've just read Rosalie Bradford's Wikipedia entry, and it is said that she lost 420 lbs. in one year's time. My sister is documented to have lost 521 lbs. in three months, so the loss 'record' is still open to discussion AFAIC, although I haven't yet contacted the Guinness people. The article also mentions at least five surgical procedures to remove excess tissue, which, although not specified in the article, almost certainly contributed to Ms. Bradford's total weight loss as recorded in the Guinness Book.