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My 600-lb Life

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My 600-lb Life
Created byJonathan Nowzaradan
StarringYounan Nowzaradan, MD
ComposersBritton Beisenherz, David Hamburger
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons13
No. of episodes152 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Jack Tarantino
  • Cameo Wallace
  • Ron Bowman
  • Jeff Keels
  • Graham Davidson
  • Tom Mireles
  • Jonathan Nowzaradan
Producers
  • Leslie Appleyard
  • Amy Yerrington
  • Dawn Cooper Johnson
Production locationsHouston, Texas
CinematographyTaylor Rudd
Editors
  • Shrader Thomas
  • Jennifer Kovacs
  • Gareth Dawson
  • John Gehrke
  • Knox Hughes
  • Matt Waguespack
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time
  • 45 minutes (seasons 1–4, excluding advertisements)
  • 85 minutes (season 5–13, excluding advertisements)
Production companyMegalomedia
Original release
NetworkTLC
ReleaseFebruary 1, 2012 (2012-02-01) –
February 12, 2025 (2025-02-12)

My 600-lb Life is an American reality television series that has aired on the TLC television network from 2012 to 2025. Each episode follows a year in the life of morbidly obese individuals, who usually begin the episode weighing at least 600 pounds (270 kg), and documents their attempts to reduce their weight to a healthy level. Update episodes, called "Where Are They Now?", feature one or more previous patients, picking up a year or more after their original episodes aired.

Patients are placed under the care of Houston surgeon Younan Nowzaradan (often referred to as "Dr. Now"), who first has them attempt losing weight on their own by following a strict diet, and then depending on the patient's progress may offer gastric bypass surgery or sleeve gastrectomy to further assist in weight loss.[1]

Concept

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This series was originally a five-part miniseries involving four morbidly obese patients. Because of its popularity, new episodes were filmed, including a "Where Are They Now?" retrospective in Season 4 that follows up on previous patients to track their weight-loss journey months or years after bariatric surgery.[2]

In Season 1, patients were filmed over seven years (2004–2011). Beginning with Season 2, patients were filmed for only one year. In Season 8, certain patients' stories were filmed for only six months.

Beginning with Season 5, new episodes were two hours long instead of one hour. This was previously done with "Melissa's Story" (which was in two parts) and "Lupe's Story". Recap episodes titled "Supersized" and "Extended", which include additional facts and footage respectively, also aired during this season.

Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
16February 1, 2012 (2012-02-01)March 26, 2012 (2012-03-26)
28January 7, 2014 (2014-01-07)February 25, 2014 (2014-02-25)
310January 7, 2015 (2015-01-07)April 8, 2015 (2015-04-08)
412January 6, 2016 (2016-01-06)May 18, 2016 (2016-05-18)
514January 4, 2017 (2017-01-04)April 16, 2017 (2017-04-16)
616January 3, 2018 (2018-01-03)May 9, 2018 (2018-05-09)
720January 2, 2019 (2019-01-02)May 15, 2019 (2019-05-15)
816January 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)April 15, 2020 (2020-04-15)
913December 30, 2020 (2020-12-30)March 24, 2021 (2021-03-24)
1015November 3, 2021 (2021-11-03)February 9, 2022 (2022-02-09)
118February 1, 2023 (2023-02-01)March 22, 2023 (2023-03-22)
127March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)April 17, 2024 (2024-04-17)
137January 1, 2025 (2025-01-01)February 12, 2025 (2025-02-12)

Subject outcomes

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Twenty-five patients are known to have died since appearing on the show.

Patient name Season Episode Age Date Cause Sources Notes
Henry Foots1454May 16, 2013Illness unrelated to weight[3][4]He suffered a medical episode one year prior to his death while working as a bus driver, killing a pedestrian.
Robert Buchel6841November 15, 2017Heart attack[5]Occurred during the filming of the show while staying in a skilled nursing facility in Houston
L.B. Bonner6630August 2, 2018Suicide by gunshot[6]
Lisa Fleming6750August 23, 2018Illness unrelated to weight[7]
Kelly Mason71341February 15, 2019Heart failure[8]Occurred during the filming of the show
Sean Milliken41129February 17, 2019Cardiac arrest due to infection complications from poor hygiene[9]Occurred during the filming of the WATN spin-off while staying in a physical rehabilitation center in Houston
James King51149April 3, 2020Multiple organ failure due to obesity[10][11]
Coliesa McMillian81241September 22, 2020Acute kidney failure and other complications related to weight loss surgery[12]
Renee Biran61156May 14, 2021Undisclosed[13]
Gina Krasley8530August 1, 2021Undisclosed[14]
Ashley Randall1540October 2, 2021Sepsis, complications related to sepsis, and pneumonia[15][16]
Laura Ann Perez3748November 17, 2021Undisclosed[17]
Destinee LaShaee71031February 8, 2022Implied to be suicide[18][19]Although the cause of death was not revealed, LaShaee and her family had stated she struggled with depression and suicidal ideation, according to her brother Wayne Compton, who stated "I'm sorry you felt like you had no other choice".
Angela Gutierrez71549March 21, 2023Undisclosed[20]
Larry Myers Jr.101349June 13, 2023Heart attack[21]
Paul MacNeill10637September 21, 2023Automobile accident[22]
Vianey Rodriguez72041November 20, 2023Pneumonia complications[23][24]
Latonya Pottain11240May 17, 2025Congestive heart failure[25]She was in a rehab center when it occurred.
Dottie Perkins4544June 14, 2025Unspecified long-term illness[26]
Lupe Samano41250September 12, 2025Undisclosed[27]
Patrick Macon11846September 17, 2025Cancer[28]
Pauline Potter3362November 27, 2025Automobile accident[29]
Charity Pierce3850January 27, 2026Undisclosed[30]She was in hospice care due to medical conditions that were ongoing at the time of her death.
Lee Sutton6151January 29, 2026Undisclosed[31]
Dolly Martinez101230April 11, 2026Congestive heart failure[32]

Spin-offs

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Beginning in January 2015, TLC began airing My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? The purpose of this spin-off was to update viewers on the weight loss journeys of people featured in previous seasons. As of 2024, nine seasons of the Where Are They Now? follow-ups have aired.

In 2016, a second spin-off, Skin Tight, began airing, showing people who struggle with the excess skin remaining after their weight loss successes. Dr. Nowzaradan appears along with other plastic surgeons.

Lawsuits

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In 2018, several news outlets reported that several former patients of Dr. Nowzaradan who appeared on the series, as well as the family of one patient, L.B. Bonner, who died by suicide, had brought suits against the show's production company, Megalomedia, alleging negligence and claiming that the company failed to cover medical costs.[33][34] Plaintiff Destinee LaShaee, the first transgender participant to appear on the show, sued the show after claiming it did not provide the mental health treatments it promised. She died on February 8, 2022, after posting messages on social media "indicative of her depression and possibly suicidal thoughts."[18]

A total of ten lawsuits were filed, which were later consolidated into a single proceeding on May 20, 2020. Megalomedia requested summary judgment, which was denied via the judge not ruling on its motion within the time required under Texas law. Megalomedia then appealed its motion to the appellate court.[35]

On April 14, 2022, all ten of the lawsuits were dismissed by the 13th Appellate Court of Texas.[35][36][37][38]

References

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  1. ↑ King, Brittany (May 30, 2017). "My 600-Lb. Life Dr. Nowzaradan on Why It's Difficult for Patients to Keep the Weight Off". People. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  2. ↑ "'My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?': Have They Kept The Weight Off?". The Huffington Post. March 27, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Henry Foots Obituary". May 19, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2017 – via Legacy.com.
  4. ↑ Calen, Tom (June 26, 2021). "What Really Happened To Henry Foots After My 600-Lb Life?". Looper.com. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  5. ↑ Bever, Lindsey (March 2, 2018). "A 'My 600-lb Life' participant died while filming his fight to lose weight". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ "'My 600-Lb Life' Star L.B. Bonner Dead At 30". August 3, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ Hearon, Sarah (August 24, 2018). "'My 600-lb Life' Star Lisa Fleming Dead at 50". US Weekly. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Kelly Mason Becomes Second 'My 600-LB Life' Subject To Die During Show's Filming, Suffering Heart Failure". Inqisitr. March 27, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  9. ↑ "My 600-Lb. Life Star Sean Milliken Is Dead at Age 29". people.com. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  10. ↑ "James D. King". Milner & Orr. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  11. ↑ "My 600 Lb. Life Star James King Dies at Age 49". Peoplemag. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  12. ↑ "'MY 600-LB. LIFE' STAR COLIESA MCMILLIAN DEAD AT 41". TMZ. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Renee Elizabeth Carlock Biran". Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  14. ↑ Lawrence, Derek (August 6, 2021). "'My 600-lb Life' alum Gina Krasley dies at 30". EW.com. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  15. ↑ "'My 600-lb Life': Ashley Randall Dead at 40". October 3, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Ashley Randall Obituary 2021". Young's Daughters Funeral Home & Bereavement Center. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Obituary Laura Ann Perez". Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Ring, Trudy (February 9, 2022). "Destinee Lashaee, 1st Trans Star on 'My 600-lb Life,' Has Died". www.advocate.com. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Matthew Brock Ventress". Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Angela Finece Gutierrez Obituary". charlesyoungfuneralhome.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Larry Myers Jr. of 'My 600-Lb. Life' Dead at 49".
  22. ↑ Lauren, Amanda (October 8, 2023). "'My 600-Lb. Life' Paul MacNeill Dead At 37".
  23. ↑ Johnson, Allie (November 21, 2023). "TLC's 'My 600-Lb. Life' Season 7: Vianey Rodriguez Dead".
  24. ↑ "Obituary information for Vianey "Vanessa" Edith Rodriquez".
  25. ↑ "'My 600-lb Life' Star Latonya Pottain Dead at 40". www.tmz.com. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Dottie Perkins Potts Obituary Jun 14, 2025 - Wells Funeral Home & Cremation Services/Forrest Memorial Park". www.wellsfuneralhome.net. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Lupe Samano Obituary".
  28. ↑ "Obituary for John "Patrick" Macon | Colonial Funeral Home & Crematory". Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  29. ↑ "'My 600-Lb. Life' Star Pauline Potter Dies at 62 After Car Crash".
  30. ↑ "'My 600-lb Life' star Charity Pierce dies at 50".
  31. ↑ "Obituary information for Lee Daniel Sutton". Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  32. ↑ "'My 600-Lb. Life' Star Dolly Martinez Dies At 30". deadline.com. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Three More 'My 600 Lb Life' Cast Members File Lawsuits Against Show's Production Company; Their Lawyer Says They "Intend to End This Show"". The Ashley's Reality Roundup. February 27, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  34. ↑ Delott, Simon (February 28, 2020). "My 600-lb Life Sued by FOUR Former Stars: End This Show, NOW!". The Hollywood Gossip. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  35. 1 2 "Megalomedia, Inc.v. Maja Radnovic, Jeanne Covey, Barbara J. Fallaw, Dorothy 'Dottie' Perkins, Annjeanette Whaley, Alicia Kirgan, and Matthew Ventress aka Dentinee Lashaee". search.txcourts.gov. Texas Judicial Branch. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  36. ↑ Pesquera, Adolfo. "Ex-Subjects of My 600-Lb Life Lose Big in Negligence Lawsuit". Texas Lawyer. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Texas Panel Tosses Claims Against 'My 600-lb Life' Producer - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Megalomedia, Inc. v. Radnovic, No. 13-20-00341-CV | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
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