It is a heavy show. Literally and emotionally. For over a decade, TLC’s hit series has followed individuals trapped in their own bodies, fighting for a second chance at life through gastric bypass surgery. Most people tune in for the "success" stories—the incredible transformations where someone sheds 400 pounds and starts hiking or dating. But there is a darker side to the scale. The reality is that morbid obesity is a lethal condition, and for some, the help came just a little too late. Honestly, when you look at who has died on My 600 lb Life, it’s a sobering reminder that this isn’t just reality TV. It is a high-stakes medical gamble.
Since the show premiered in 2012, more than a dozen cast members have passed away. This might seem like a high number for a television show, but Dr. Younan Nowzaradan—affectionately known as Dr. Now—often points out that these patients are at the "end of their rope" when they arrive in Houston. They aren't just overweight. They are often suffering from heart failure, advanced diabetes, and severe lymphedema. Their bodies are quite literally giving up.
The Heartbreaking List of My 600 lb Life Deaths
The loss that hit fans perhaps the hardest was Robert Buchel. His story aired in Season 6, and it was devastating. Robert was one of the most dedicated patients the show had ever seen, losing a massive amount of weight in a short time. However, he struggled with a deep-seated addiction to pain medication. While filming and recovering in a care facility, Robert suffered a fatal heart attack. He was only 41. It was the first time the show documented a death during the actual filming of a patient's progress, and the raw grief of his fiancée, Kathryn, was almost unbearable to watch.
Then there was Kelly Mason from Season 7. She was another patient who seemed to be doing everything right. Kelly had lost over 300 pounds and was genuinely excited about her future. Then, just one day before her 42nd birthday, she passed away in her sleep from heart failure. Dr. Now was visibly shaken by her death, noting that her heart had simply been under too much stress for too long. It’s a recurring theme. The damage done to the cardiovascular system after years of carrying 600 or 700 pounds often persists even after the weight starts coming off.
A Pattern of Heart Failure and Respiratory Issues
Henry Foots was the second person ever featured on the show. He was a fan favorite from Season 1 because of his incredible attitude and success—he dropped from 715 pounds to 275. Sadly, Henry passed away in May 2013. While his death was originally linked to his weight-loss journey, it was later clarified that it was unrelated to the surgery itself. Still, his passing cast a long shadow over the early days of the series.
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The list goes on. Sean Milliken, who struggled immensely with the emotional aspects of eating and a complicated relationship with his mother, died at 29. He had been hospitalized for an infection that led to breathing difficulties, and his heart eventually stopped. Twenty-nine years old. It’s a staggering thought.
Other notable losses include:
- James "L.B." Bonner (Season 6): Unlike many others, L.B.’s death was a suicide. He had become a beacon of hope for fans after losing significant weight, but he struggled with mental health issues. He died in 2018.
- Lisa Fleming (Season 6): She passed away shortly after her episode aired. Her daughter noted that it wasn't the surgery that took her, but rather a combination of various illnesses she had been fighting for years.
- James King (Season 5): Known for one of the most difficult journeys on the show, James died in 2020 after battling sepsis and kidney failure.
- Gina Krasley (Season 9): She passed away at age 30, just months after her episode aired, surrounded by her family.
- Coliesa McMillian (Season 8): She suffered complications following her weight loss surgery and never fully recovered, passing away in 2020.
Why the Mortality Rate is So High in This Community
Why does this keep happening? People often blame the surgery or the stress of filming, but that’s a bit of a simplification. You've got to realize these individuals are often living with a BMI that is five or six times the "healthy" range. Medical experts like those at the Mayo Clinic emphasize that Class III obesity (morbid obesity) drastically reduces life expectancy—sometimes by as much as 20 years.
Dr. Nowzaradan isn't just being "mean" when he tells patients they might not wake up the next morning. He's being clinical. The risk of pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and cardiac arrest is astronomical for someone over 600 pounds. Even when they lose weight, the "scarring" on the heart and the strain on the internal organs doesn't just vanish overnight.
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The Mental Health Factor
You can’t talk about who has died on My 600 lb Life without talking about depression and trauma. Almost every person on the show has a history of childhood abuse, neglect, or severe emotional loss. Food was their medicine. When Dr. Now takes that medicine away through surgery, the psychological floor drops out.
James "L.B." Bonner is the most tragic example of this. He had the physical success, but the internal demons were still there. It's a massive lesson for anyone watching: weight loss surgery is a tool for the body, but it does nothing for the mind. Without intensive therapy, the physical transformation is often built on a shaky foundation.
Looking Past the Screen
It's easy to get caught up in the "drama" of TLC's editing. But these are real families. When Robbie Johnson or Destinee LaShaee (the show's first transgender contestant, who also tragically died by suicide) passed away, they left behind grieving parents, siblings, and friends.
The show has faced criticism. Some former contestants have even filed lawsuits, alleging that the production didn't provide enough mental health support or that the "villain" edits caused them extreme distress. Whether or not these claims hold up in court, they highlight the intense pressure these individuals are under. They are fighting for their lives in front of millions of people who are often very judgmental on social media.
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What We Can Learn from These Tragedies
Understanding who has died on My 600 lb Life shouldn't just be about "morbid curiosity." It’s about understanding the complexity of addiction and the physical limits of the human body. These deaths aren't failures of the individuals; they are failures of a system that often ignores obesity until it becomes a terminal illness.
If there is any takeaway from the lives of people like Kelly Mason or Robert Buchel, it's that "waiting until tomorrow" to get healthy is a luxury some people don't have. Intervention needs to happen much earlier.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Health and Support
If you or someone you know is struggling with severe obesity, don't wait for a "television moment" to seek help.
- Prioritize Mental Health First: Before looking at surgery, engage with a therapist specializing in Eating Disorders (ED). Physical changes are temporary if the emotional triggers aren't managed.
- Consult a Bariatric Specialist Early: You don't have to be 600 pounds to seek surgical advice. Many insurance plans cover consultations for those with a BMI over 35 or 40 with comorbidities.
- Focus on Cardiovascular Health: Weight is a number, but heart function is life. Regular check-ups for blood pressure and heart strain can catch "silent" killers like congestive heart failure before they become critical.
- Find a Community: Isolation is a huge driver of overeating. Whether it’s an overeaters anonymous group or a local fitness community, connection reduces the reliance on food as a coping mechanism.
The legacy of those who passed away shouldn't be their weight. It should be the bravery they showed by stepping in front of a camera to tell their stories, hoping that someone else might see them and decide to change their own life before it’s too late.