My 600-lb Life


My 600-lb Life is a reality television series that has aired on the TLC television network since 2012. Each episode follows a year in the life of morbidly obese individuals, who begin the episode weighing at least, 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 Iranian-American Houston surgeon Younan Nowzaradan, 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.

Concept

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.
In Season 1, patients were filmed over a period of seven years. 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 began filming as 2-hour episodes instead of 1-hour. This was previously done with Melissa's Story and Lupe's Story. Recap episodes titled under "Supersized" and "Extended", which include additional facts and footage respectively, also aired during this season.

Subject outcomes

Seven patients have died since appearing on the show.
Susan Farmer, who appeared in an episode on the show's third season, notably faced neuropathy as a result of her weight, which was profiled on the show.

Spin off

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 on previous seasons. As of 2018, five seasons of the Where Are They Now? follow-ups have aired.

Lawsuit

In 2020, several news outlets reported that several former patients of Dr. Nowzardan who appeared on the series, and the family of one patient, LB Bonner, who committed suicide, had brought suit against the show's production company, Megalomedia, alleging negligence and claiming that the company failed to cover medical costs.

Series overview

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1/2Melissa Morris31 years oldLivingston, TX
3Donald Shelton34 years oldPasadena, TX
4Henry Foots47 years oldHouston, TXDeceased, age 54
5Ashley Randall24 years oldKilleen, TX

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1Zsalynn Whitworth42 years oldSan Antonio, TX596.7 lbs349.9 lbs248 lbs
2Olivia Cruz46 years oldChicago, IL580.3 lbs241 lbs339 lbs
3Penny Saeger45 years oldElkton, MD530 lbs495 lbs35 lbs
4Chuck Turner45 years oldBeaumont, TX693.7 lbs268.5 lbs425 lbs
5Christina Phillips22 years oldSouth Haven, MS639.7 lbs390 lbs267 lbs
6Paula Jones39 years oldJonesboro, GA533.8 lbs390.5 lbs160 lbs
7James Jones37 years oldFrankston, TX728 lbs376.7 lbs352 lbs
8Tara Taylor35 years oldLafayette, LA606 lbs328 lbs278 lbs

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1Amber Rachdi23 years oldTroutdale, OR657.6 lbs390.5 lbs267 lbs
2Susan Farmer37 years oldEddy, TX607.6 lbs340 lbs267 lbs
3Pauline Potter50 years oldSacramento, CA673.5 lbs529 lbs149 lbs
4Bettie Jo Elmore24 years oldPotosi, MO654 lbs498.7 lbs156 lbs
5Angel Parrish42 years oldKerrville, TX570.4 lbs261.8 lbs309 lbs
6Joe Wexler31 years oldJohnson City, TN777 lbs592.6 lbs200 lbs
7Laura Perez41 years oldSan Antonio, TX594.6 lbs357.8 lbs237 lbs
8Charity Pierce39 years oldCedar Rapids, IA778.8 lbs496.6 lbs282 lbs
9Chay Guillory23 years oldCharenton, LA597.5 lbs478.7 lbs119 lbs
10Marla McCants43 years oldNashville, TN800 lbs 534.2 lbs266 lbs

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
2Nikki Webster33 years oldLittle Rock, AR649.7 lbs443.4 lbs207 lbs
3Brittani Fulfer32 years oldTualatin, OR605 lbs375.6 lbs230 lbs
4Chad Dean42 years oldHagerstown, MD701.4 lbs441.5 lbs260 lbs
5June McCamey43 years oldHouston, TX590.5 lbs389.2 lbs201 lbs
6Dottie Perkins34 years oldOxford, MS641.9 lbs520 lbs149 lbs
7Gideon Yeakley33 years oldMustang, OK649.9 lbs429.6 lbs220 lbs
8Ashley Dunn-Bratcher27 years oldKemp, TX725.1 lbs470.5 lbs255 lbs
9Teretha Hollis-Neely47 years oldDetroit, MI800 lbs 461 lbs339 lbs
10Randy Statum35 years oldHull, TX655.9 lbs441.9 lbs214 lbs
11Milla Clark47 years oldFayetteville, TN751 lbs598 lbs153 lbs
12Sean Milliken26 years oldCameron Park, CA919 lbs548 lbs455 lbs Deceased, age 29
13Lupe Samano39 years oldSan Bernardino, CA642 lbs360 lbs295 lbs

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1Brandi Dreier29 years oldVancouver, WA587.9 lbs360 lbs228 lbs
1Kandi Dreier29 years oldVancouver, WA604.7 lbs384 lbs220 lbs
2Ashley Reyes30 years oldWest Hills, CA668.8 lbs414 lbs254 lbs
3Cynthia Wells42 years oldOklahoma City, OK610.3 lbs454 lbs156 lbs
4Kirsten Perez38 years oldLongview, WA612.5 lbs442 lbs170 lbs
5Doug Armstrong36 years oldWichita Falls, TX684.8 lbs462.4 lbs222 lbs
6Erica Wall44 years oldLompoc, CA661.6 lbs471 lbs190 lbs
7Diana Bunch55 years oldSeattle, WA601.1 lbs336 lbs265 lbs
8Michael Dominguez32 years oldGlendale, AZ635.9 lbs348.7 lbs287 lbs
9Nicole Lewis23 years oldMarion, OH684.6 lbs521.3 lbs163 lbs
10Tanisha Cleveland32 years oldSilsbee, TX588.7 lbs 484 lbs119 lbsTook place over 2 years
11James King46 years oldPaducah, KY735 lbs788.6 lbs, dismissed from program in Month 1155 lbs Deceased, age 49
12Tracey Matthews45 years oldLorain, OH605.9 lbs388 lbs218 lbs
13/14Steven Assanti33 years oldCranston, RI730.8 lbs677.5 lbs131 lbs
13/14Justin Assanti27 years oldCranston, RI604.2 lbsUnknownUnknown

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1Rena Kiser39 years oldHouston, MO549 lbs278 lbs271 lbs
1Lee Sutton42 years oldHouston, MO714 lbs411 lbs303 lbs
2Janine Mueller53 years oldSeattle, WA678.2 lbs566 lbs112 lbs
3Liz Evans35 years oldFreeport, TX721.3 lbs368 lbs353 lbs
4Alicia Kirgan32 years oldMadison, IL622.3 lbs436 lbs186 lbs
5Karina Garcia38 years oldConverse, TX633.2 lbs398 lbs235 lbs
6James "L.B." Bonner29 years oldLexington, SC642.3 lbs326 lbs316 lbsDeceased, age 30
7Lisa Fleming49 years oldMobile, AL704.3 lbsUnknown, dismissed from program in Month 6UnknownDeceased, age 50
8Robert Buchel41 years oldForked River, NJ842.1 lbs502 lbs, died during filming in Month 9340 lbsDeceased, age 41
9Tamy Lyn Murrell45 years oldCovington, KY591.7 lbs346.2 lbs246 lbs
10David Bolton35 years oldHouston, TX747.1 lbs386 lbs361 lbs
10Benji Bolton32 years oldHouston, TX582.5 lbs218 lbs364 lbs
11Renee Biran53 years oldValdosta, GA631.8 lbs381 lbs250 lbs
12Sarah Neeley25 years oldDayton, OH642.3 lbs393 lbs260 lbs
13Schenee Murry-Hawkins27 years oldIndianapolis, IN665.2 lbs664.4 lbs, dismissed from program in Month 848 lbs
14Jennifer Jess42 years oldBend, OR636.3 lbs426 lbs210 lbs
14Marissa Jess26 years oldBend, OR573.1 lbs341 lbs232 lbs
15/16Roshanda Perrio30 years oldLafayette, LA803.7 lbs605.7 lbs198 lbs+
15/16Brandie Perrio29 years oldLafayette, LA620.6 lbs382.3 lbs238 lbs+
15/16Clarence Perrio33 years oldLafayette, LA582.7 lbs437.9 lbs145 lbs+

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1Octavia Gahagans42 years oldKansas City, MO692.3 lbs456 lbs236 lbs
2Brianne Dias30 years oldFlorence, OR742.2 lbs358 lbs384 lbs+
3Robin Mckinley40 years oldMeade, KS648.7 lbs395 lbs253 lbs
3Garrett Rogers20 years oldMeade, KS607.3 lbs337 lbs270 lbs
4Justin McSwain27 years oldRock Hill, SC687.5 lbs353.5 lbs334 lbs
5Holly Hager38 years oldEllijay, GA658.1 lbs418 lbs240 lbs
6Lacey Hodder29 years oldBay City, MI691.2 lbs435 lbs256 lbs
7Brandon Scott33 years oldColumbus, OH718.4 lbs383.7 lbs335 lbs
8Maja Radanovic33 years oldPortland, OR689.4 lbs592.5 lbs, left program in Month 897 lbs
9Tiffany Barker28 years oldMarysville, WA672.5 lbs415 lbs257 lbs
10Destinee LaShaee27 years oldPineville, LA669 lbs440 lbs229 lbsBorn as Matthew LaShaee
11Jeanne Covey39 years oldBig Sandy, TX702.4 lbs670.7 lbs, left program in Month 632 lbs
12Aaron Washer30 years oldNew Braunfels, TX718.1 lbs402.7 lbs315 lbs
13Kelly Mason41 years oldGreensboro, NC725.5 lbs383 lbs, died during filming in Month 10342 lbsDeceased, age 41
14Annjeanette Whaley30 years oldHillsboro, OR679.1 lbs405 lbs274 lbs
15Angela Gutierrez44 years oldRoss, OH608.4 lbsNo second weigh-in, left program in Month 8Unknown
16LaShanta White39 years oldKenner, LA662 lbs529.5 lbs, briefly dismissed from program in Month 9160 lbs
17Cillas Givens35 years oldFairview, OK729 lbs313 lbs416 lbs
18Mercedes Cephas37 years oldCincinnati, OH773.2 lbs692 lbs81 lbs
19Angela Johns39 years oldMassillon, OH643.3 lbs594.6 lbs, dismissed from program in Month 849 lbs
20Vianey Rodriguez35 years oldChicago, IL594.8 lbs+ 369 lbs226 lbs+
20Allen Lewis51 years oldChicago, IL648.1 lbs+ 376 lbs272 lbs+

EpPatient NameStarting AgeLocationStarting WeightEnding Weight Total Weight Loss Notes
1John Hambrick34 years oldWylie, TX686.5 lbs393 lbs294 lbs
1Lonnie Hambrick35 years oldHaltom City, TX612.7 lbs368 lbs245 lbs
2Lindsey Witte39 years oldHills, IA647.6 lbs438 lbs209 lbs
3Bethany Stout40 years oldAlva, OK604.7 lbs504 lbs, left the program in Month 11100.7 lbs
4Julius Clark32 years oldClaremore, OK892.2 lbs491 lbs401 lbs
5Gina Krasley28 years oldTuckerton, NJ606.7 lbs556.2 lbs50.5 lbs
6Travis Henry31 years oldCarrollton, TX617.3 lbs379 lbs238 lbs
7Joyce Del Viscovo44 years oldGardner, KS759.2 lbs623.8 lbs, left the program in month 12134.4 lbs
8Carlton Oglesby24 years oldColumbus, OH786 lbs544 lbs242 lbs+
8Shantel Oglesby31 years oldColumbus, OH638 lbs424 lbs214 lbs+
9Seana Collins22 years oldKansas City, MO659 lbs661.3 lbs2.3 lb gain
10Ashley Bernard31 years oldCarenco, LA637 lbs504 lbs133 lb
11Tommy Johnson38 years oldWinnsboro, LA641 lbs423 lbs218 lbs
12Coliesa McMillian41 years oldNew Roads, LA643 lbs499 lbs144 lbs
13Dominic Hernandez37 years oldFresno, CA672 lbs650 lbs, dismissed from program Month 622 lbsFirst patient in the show to be currently homeless
14Megan Davis24 years oldTaylorville, IL604 lbs481 lbs123 lbs
15Ashley Taylor24 years oldTemple, TX486 lbs469 lbs17 lbs
16Leneatha Reed40 years oldMeridian, MS604 lbs575 lbs, left program in Month 629 lbs