Anisha Dutta
My 600-lb Life has been on air on TLC since 2012. Over the years, the show has seen several morbidly obese individuals approach Dr. You, who, in turn, guides them through their tough journeys of weight loss and recovery.
In almost all our past recaps or previews of the show, we have covered cases that end either in success or disappointment, depending on the severity of obesity and willpower of the featured reality stars. But did you know that certain people featured in the show have also lost their lives — because of extreme bodyweight and its related health complications. Sad but true. Till date, six cast members of My 600-lb Life have tragically died. Let’s take a detailed look at each of them below.
Kelly Mason
Kelly Mason had appeared during the seventh season of My 600-lb Life in 2019. She died in February 2019 and her death also formed a part of the episode’s storyline. She succumbed to a massive heart stroke. When she was featured in the series, she weighed a whopping 724 pounds and then managed to go down to 383 pounds, following her sessions with Dr. You.
Kelly died just a day before her 42nd birthday after she expressed that she felt like she was “in a new world”. The news was both shocking and tragic, considering the fact that she had exhibited a dramatic transformation during her treatment.
Lisa Fleming
Lisa was a participant of My 600-lb Life season 6 and she passed away in August 2018 at the age of 50. When she first made an appearance in the show, she was bedridden and tipped the scales at over 700 pounds. After her weight-loss surgery, she lost 200 pounds with the help of Dr. You.
Soon after, she became seriously sick and never recovered. Her daughter Danielle shared the news on Facebook, saying: “I am truly at a loss for words right now. This morning I sat and held your hand for 4 hours knowing nothing I could’ve done would bring you back to me. Anybody who knows me knows I gave my mother my ALL! … I’m happy you’re no longer in pain and stuck in that bed.”
James “L.B.” Bonner
James was also a participant from season 6 and sadly, he took his own life prior to the death of Fleming. When we first met him, he weighed above 650 pounds but with hard work and determination, he managed to cut down his initial weight by half almost. Hence, fans were devastated when they heard the news of his suicide after him having shown so much optimism.
Apparently, James had been struggling with depression. Just before he died, he posted on social media, “It’s time that I face my demons head-on”. And shortly, he ended his life.
Robert Buchel
Yet another star from season 6, Robert Buchel met with his untimely death while filming his episode. When he approached Dr. Younan, he weighed 840 pounds, and over the months, managed to cut down his mass by 340 pounds. However, due to Robert’s painkiller addiction, he succumbed to a fatal heart attack. In the episode, his fiance was heard saying: “I lost my best friend and the person I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with.”
Sean Milliken
Sean appeared in the fourth season of My 600-lb Life. We followed his journey as he expressed how he became a food addict in order to deal with his emotional issues. During his first appearance, he weighed more than 900 pounds. After meeting Dr. You, he lost around 400 pounds and then also completed a successful weight-loss surgery. However, he passed away in February 2019 at the young age of 29.
Sean’s dad Matt Milliken posted the news on Facebook, stating that his son had died from complications following an infection. He wrote: “Sunday he was having problems with his breathing, they were able to resuscitate him and a short time later his heart stopped.”
Henry Foots
Henry was introduced to fans in the inaugural installment of My 600-lb Life. He originally weighed 750 pounds and wished to shed some pounds to prepare for his high school reunion. After his sessions with Dr. You, he weighed only 275 pounds. But in May 2013, he sadly departed, more than a year after his episode aired on TLC.
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