It is hard to forget the image of Steven Assanti. Honestly, if you watched TLC back in 2017, the sight of him yelling at nurses or orchestrating a pizza delivery to a hospital room probably lives rent-free in your head. He wasn't just another patient on the show; he became the ultimate "villain" of the franchise. But that was years ago. The cameras stopped rolling on the Assanti brothers a long time ago, and the internet has been a breeding ground for rumors ever since.
People constantly search for steven on my 600 pound life now because they want to know if he actually survived his own lifestyle. You've probably seen the headlines. "Steven Assanti Passes Away at 40." "Heart Failure Claims TLC Star."
The truth? He's still here.
As of early 2026, Steven is alive, though his life looks nothing like the chaotic spectacle we saw on our TV screens. He isn't in Houston anymore. He isn't under the strict thumb of Dr. Nowzaradan. He has basically vanished into a quiet, somewhat mysterious life in the Midwest, far away from the spotlight that once fueled his most erratic behavior.
The Death Rumors That Won't Quit
Let's address the elephant in the room first. Every few months, a "breaking news" report circles social media claiming Steven Assanti is dead. It happened most aggressively in February 2023, when a fan page claimed his heart finally gave out.
The rumors got so loud that his brother, Justin Assanti, had to step in. Now, if you know anything about these two, you know they don't get along. At all. They haven't spoken in years. But Justin took to Facebook to set the record straight: Steven was alive, sitting in his apartment, and talking to their father, Steven Sr., every single night.
It’s a weird dynamic. They are estranged, yet tethered by their shared trauma and public notoriety. Even in 2026, the death hoaxes continue to pop up, largely because Steven has mostly deleted his social media presence. When a reality star goes silent, the internet assumes the worst.
Marriage, Iowa, and the Stephanie Saga
One of the most shocking twists in the saga of steven on my 600 pound life now was his marriage. In 2018, Steven married a massage therapist named Stephanie Sanger.
Nobody saw it coming.
Stephanie, who lived in Iowa, saw Steven on TV and didn't see a villain. She said she saw a "beautiful person" and a soulmate. They met in a hotel in Texas, hit it off, and were married in a tiny ceremony shortly after. For a while, it seemed like the stabilizing force he desperately needed. She defended him against trolls, claiming the show's editing made him look far worse than he actually was.
But things got rocky. By 2023 and 2024, reports surfaced that they were living apart. Stephanie stayed in Des Moines, while Steven was reportedly elsewhere. During the height of the pandemic, they were physically separated by hours of driving distance. While they haven't officially confirmed a divorce to the public, the "happily ever after" looks a lot more like a "it's complicated" these days. Steven’s own TikTok videos—where he’s often seen singing off-key or acting strangely—don't feature her much anymore.
Where is Justin Assanti?
You can't talk about Steven without mentioning Justin. Their rivalry was the heart of their multi-part episodes. While Steven was the loud, manipulative one, Justin was the quiet, simmering brother who just wanted to be left alone.
Justin's life in 2026 is actually a massive success story, though he hates being associated with the show. He moved back to Rhode Island and focused on his business, Hobby Haven. If you’re into tabletop gaming or Warhammer, he’s your guy. He managed to lose a significant amount of weight—over 200 pounds—and has kept most of it off.
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More importantly, he’s found peace. He stays away from the TLC cameras and has made it clear he will never film for the network again. He even paid back his father for the money invested in his shop to gain total independence. He’s living proof that you can escape the "600-lb Life" cycle if you're willing to cut out the toxic influences—even if that influence is your own brother.
The Physical Toll: What's His Weight Now?
This is the question everyone asks. Did he keep the weight off?
Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. At his heaviest, Steven was over 800 pounds. After his gastric bypass, he dropped down into the 500s. Recent glimpses of him on TikTok and Facebook suggest he hasn't reached a "goal weight" by any means. He still struggles.
Weight loss surgery isn't a magic wand; it's a tool. For someone like Steven, whose issues were always more psychological and addictive than just physical, the battle is never-ending. He still deals with the lymphedema and the skin issues that come with such massive weight fluctuations. He has mentioned being back on blood thinners for clots in his legs—a recurring and dangerous problem for him.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
Why does the internet care so much about steven on my 600 pound life now?
It’s because he represented the most extreme version of the human struggle with addiction. Whether it was the painkillers or the food, Steven’s episodes were a raw, often ugly look at what happens when a person hits rock bottom and decides to dig deeper.
He wasn't the "inspirational" patient who hit the gym and cried over a salad. He was the guy who threw a fit because he couldn't have his way. That makes him human, albeit a very difficult one to root for.
What We Can Learn
If you’re following Steven’s story hoping for a perfect ending, you might be disappointed. Life isn't a scripted reality show. Here are the takeaways from his ongoing journey:
- Accountability is everything. Surgery can't fix a mindset. Without addressing the underlying trauma or addiction, the scale will always fluctuate.
- Boundaries are healthy. Justin Assanti’s success came from distancing himself from his brother. Sometimes, family "loyalty" is just a trap.
- The "Villain" edit is real, but so is the behavior. While TLC definitely amps up the drama, the core issues Steven faced were very real and very documented by hospital staff.
- Privacy is a tool for recovery. Steven’s move away from the public eye might be the best thing for his mental health, even if it fuels death rumors.
If you are looking for updates on Steven, the best place is actually his brother Justin’s social media or local Rhode Island/Iowa news outlets. Steven himself seems done with the "fame" that once consumed him. Whether he ever reaches a healthy weight is up in the air, but for now, he is surviving—and in his world, that’s a victory.
Keep an eye on Justin's hobby shop updates if you want the most "grounded" news, as he remains the most reliable source for whether his brother is actually okay. Avoid the clickbait YouTube channels; they usually just recycle old footage for views.