After a tragic year which saw the death of two former My 600 Lb. Life cast members, the TLC show is set to return for a new season, premiering this week.
The weight-loss reality/docuseries returns Wednesday, with the network sharing some of what (and who) will be featured in the Season 9 trailer.
“The time for change is now,” TLC captioned the clip on social media.
…and speaking of “now,” yes, Dr. Nowzaradan – aka Dr. Now – will also be returning to the series this season.
In the trailer, we see the participants struggling with every day things, such as getting out of bed, getting dressed and getting into a car. (In one part, a man crawls into the back of a mini van, presumably because he is too big to sit in a seat.)
“I wish my life was just a nightmare, that I could wake up from,” one participant tells the camera.
We also see plenty of clips of the participants eating insanely large meals.
“Food is like a best friend,” one woman tells the camera. “It’s a comfort, it’s a joy.”
“Food is the only constant in my life, besides God’s love,” another person says.
One man is seen caretaking for his wife as she struggles to get into the shower.
“I’d do anything to get my wife back, the way she was before,” he says.
One woman is shown weighing in at 940 lbs., before Dr. Now encourages her to make the changes necessary to get help.
“Your life is worth more than food,” he tells one patient.
“Food is my entire life,” one woman says. “I don’t know who I am without food.”
The announcement of Season 9 comes just a few months after Season 8 cast member Coliesa McMillian, 41, died after suffering complications from weight loss surgery.
Sadly, Coliesa was the second member of the “My 600 Lb. Life” family to pass away this year, as Season 5 star James King died in April at the age of 49.
As The Ashley reported in earlier this year, there have been eight people featured on “My 600 Lb. Life” to die after their episode was filmed. Other participants include Season 1’s Henry Foots in 2013; Rob Buchel of Season 6 in 2017; L.B. Bonner, also of Season 6, died of suicide in 2018.
Also in 2018, Lisa Fleming of Season 3 passed away. In February 2019, Sean Milliken, who appeared on Season 4, died after suffering complications from an infection at the age of 29. That month also saw the loss of Season 7’s Kelly Mason, who died of heart failure during her “My 600 Lb. Life” episode.
Additionally, a tenth lawsuit was filed against “My 600 Lb. Life” production company Megalomedia in April – this one by Alicia Kirgan of Season 6 – based on claims that the show’s producers falsified a mental health exam required for weight loss surgery. There has also been a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of L.B. Bonner.
Legal action has also been taken by David Bolton (Season 6), Gina Krasley (Season 8), Maja Radanovic (Season 7), Destinee Lashaee (Season 7), Jeanne Covey (Season 7), Nicole Lewis (Season 5), Dottie Perkins (Season 4) and Annjeanette Whaley (Season 7).
In May, a judge denied Megalomedia’s request to dismiss the lawsuits. It was also revealed at that time that Jonathan Nowzaradan, founder of Megalomedia, creator of “My 600 Lb. Life” and son of Dr. Now, would be deposed along with Megalomedia CFO, Toni Westberry.
“My 600 Lb. Life” returns Wednesday, December 30, at 8/7c on TLC. Check out the Season 9 trailer below.
RELATED STORY: “My 600 lb. Life” Season 8 Star Coliesa McMillian Dies After Suffering Complication From Weight Loss Surgery
(Photos: TLC; Instagram)
4 Responses
Im pretty sure these people have medical insurance due to being disabled from obesity. I think the show gives them some type of rental allowance cause it seems some of these people have lived in the same apt in Houston. State insurance covers the surgery but not skin removal if the skin removal is concidered cosmetic. I have seen 1 episode where Dr. Now said it isnt cosmetic because the extra skin was causing other issues.
If they’re falsifying mental health exams and other documentation that is WRONG and they should be held accountable for that.
AND while I’ve only seen occasional episodes Dr Now literally warns them how dangerous their situation is
I totally agree if they were falsifying medical records, but that seems flimsy to me. Because. at least what they show on the episode, Dr Now has an original consultation and requires the patient to lose a certain amount of weight before he will do surgery. If the patient doesn’t, Dr Now advises therapy to see what could be a deeper cause if this issue. Same with those who stall out losing weight after the surgery.
So I wonder what mental/medical tests they could be falsifying? Did the participants take mental health evaluations prior to the filming?
I recently started getting into 600lb life (thanks Hulu!) and it’s clear these people have mental health issues as well as physical issues. It’s an addiction, just like drugs/alcohol, they know eating like that is killing them and ruining their lives – but they keep going back. I still question how the show works, like does the show pay the participants? Do you pay for the actual surgery and aftercare? Some completely uproot themselves and families to move to Houston, when you see their original home is a rundown trailer and they move into a decent looking apartment- how can they afford that? On top of major surgery…