It has been 48 years since "The King" Elvis Presley's passing, but the cause of his death continues to spark discussion among fans and media alike. On August 16, 1977, the 42-year-old Elvis was discovered dead in his bathroom. The official cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia leading to heart failure. However, his attending physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos, later revealed that the real reason was actually chronic and severe constipation. Reportedly, an autopsy found that Elvis's body had accumulated over 20kg of feces—more than twice the amount of an average adult. During his lifetime, his persistent bowel issues also contributed to obesity and organ failure, ultimately becoming the main factor that broke down his health.
It is said that Elvis, concerned about his 'idol image,' refused to undergo surgery for his constipation, considering it an embarrassing ailment. Long-term use of painkillers and sleeping pills further worsened his constipation problem, and drug dependence placed additional strain on his heart and other organs.
Even more lamentable, Elvis's diet was extremely unbalanced during his life—he saw food not just as sustenance, but also as comfort and joy. He loved high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie junk food. By 1977, his weight had exceeded 100kg, at one point approaching 150kg. After his divorce from his wife Priscilla Presley in 1973, his binge eating and drug dependency worsened further, ultimately leading to his lonely death in the bathroom.
It is said that Elvis, concerned about his 'idol image,' refused to undergo surgery for his constipation, considering it an embarrassing ailment. Long-term use of painkillers and sleeping pills further worsened his constipation problem, and drug dependence placed additional strain on his heart and other organs.
Even more lamentable, Elvis's diet was extremely unbalanced during his life—he saw food not just as sustenance, but also as comfort and joy. He loved high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie junk food. By 1977, his weight had exceeded 100kg, at one point approaching 150kg. After his divorce from his wife Priscilla Presley in 1973, his binge eating and drug dependency worsened further, ultimately leading to his lonely death in the bathroom.