My 600 Pound Life Where Are They Now? Season 8 Cast Whereabouts
by Abinaya | Updated May 30, 2023
My 600 Pound Life
My 600-lb Life is a reality TV series that has been broadcast on the TLC network since 2012. The show focuses on the lives of extremely obese individuals, weighing at least 600 pounds (270 kg), as they strive to achieve a healthier weight over the course of a year. The series also includes "Where Are They Now?" update episodes, which check in on the progress of previous patients after a year or more has passed since their initial episodes aired.
The patients featured on the show receive treatment from Houston surgeon Younan Nowzaradan, commonly known as "Dr. Now." Initially, Dr. Now guides them in attempting weight loss through a strict diet regimen. Based on the patient's progress, he may then offer surgical options like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy to further support their weight loss journey.
My 600 Pound Life Where are they now?
Dottie & Cynthia :
Season 6, Episode 3 featured the return of Dottie Perkins and Cynthia Wells. Dottie, previously seen in Season 4, weighed over 600 lbs due to lifelong unhealthy eating habits. Her journey became more challenging after the loss of her 13-year-old son. Despite these hardships, Dottie remained committed to working with Dr. Now. However, she faced a new struggle as her husband's drinking problem became unbearable for her and her youngest son.
In contrast, Cynthia Wells had a different path in "My 600-lb Life." She appeared in Season 5, starting at 610 lbs. Determined to overcome her weight-related difficulties, the single mother of five sought Dr. Now's help. Cynthia achieved significant progress, losing 156 pounds. When revisited in "My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?" In season 6, Cynthia had dropped an additional 100 pounds.
Dr. Now encouraged her to continue her weight loss journey and attend psychotherapy sessions. Cynthia vowed to persist in losing more weight and qualify for skin removal surgery.
Jennifer and Marissa Jess :
Jennifer and Marissa Jess, a mother and daughter duo, appeared on Season 6 of "My 600-Lb Life" weighing 636 lbs and 573 lbs respectively. Despite their unique relationship, their weight gain stories shared similarities. Jennifer's difficult upbringing, with a substance-addicted father and an abusive stepfather, led to her food addiction.
Marissa, witnessing her father physically assaulting Jennifer, also developed an addiction. However, through gastric sleeve surgery and a specialized diet program, both Jennifer and Marissa made significant weight loss progress by the end of their episode.
Angela Marie Dunham-Johns (Angie J) :
Angela Marie Dunham-Johns, also known as Angie J, gained significant attention as one of the most controversial stars of Season 7 of "My 600-lb Life." At the beginning of her journey, Angela weighed 643 lbs and traveled from Ohio to Texas to seek help from Dr. Now. However, things took a challenging turn when Angela refused to follow Dr. Now's instructions, especially regarding the need to lose a substantial amount of weight before being eligible for surgery. It was later revealed by Dr. Now that Angela had been impeding her own weight loss progress by abusing drugs while under his care. By the end of her episode, Angela had only managed to lose 49 pounds, showing no signs of significant improvement.
Bettie Jo & Susan :
In a highly requested update on My 600-lb Life, Bettie Jo and Susan Farmer, who was featured on My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? season 4, episode 2, shared their progress. When Bettie Jo first appeared on My 600-lb Life season 3, she weighed 654 lbs. Throughout her journey, she faced challenges in achieving her weight loss goals and navigating her relationship with her boyfriend, Josh.
However, she persevered and conquered these obstacles. In the Where Are They Now? the episode, Bettie Jo proudly revealed that she had become a mother to her son, Preston Elmore, as reported by TLC. Susan Farmer embarked on a demanding weight loss journey when she first appeared on My 600-lb Life season 3.
Her unwavering dedication to shedding pounds quickly made her a beloved figure among fans, and she had already achieved a significant weight loss by the conclusion of her episode. However, when viewers caught up with Susan on Where Are They Now?, they were pleasantly surprised to witness her remarkable transformation.
Not only did Susan appear much healthier than before, but she also found herself in a new relationship. The progress made by both Susan and Bettie Jo was truly astonishing.
Steven & Justin Assanti :
Steven and Justin Assanti gained significant attention as prominent figures on My 600-lb Life, although their reputation was marred by negative circumstances. The duo made their appearance on season 5, episode 13, and their presence brought about a great deal of turmoil. Steven, weighing a staggering 800 pounds, garnered notoriety for his disruptive behavior, leading to his removal from the show due to his verbal abuse towards the staff. On the other hand, Justin, weighing around 600 pounds, was more reserved and dedicated himself to his weight loss journey.
However, when Steven and Justin returned on My 600-lb Life, not much had changed. The dynamic between Steven and Dr. Now remained tense, despite Dr. Now's unwavering commitment to assisting Steven in his weight loss efforts. Furthermore, it was revealed that Steven and Justin were no longer on speaking terms. Although there were some improvements compared to their initial appearance on My 600-lb Life, their progress was not as significant as that of other participants on the show.
My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? Season 8
Brothers John and Lonnie impress Dr. Now with their astounding weight loss achievements. John has shed over 300 pounds, while Lonnie has dropped over 200 pounds. They have gained the ability to walk and exercise, filling them with hope for the future. Holly has made significant strides in her weight loss journey, but she now faces the challenge of balancing a wedding and skin surgery.
Having lost over 200 pounds, she still has a long way to go. Meanwhile, Lashanta has also experienced weight loss progress, yet she grapples with her mental health. She is currently undergoing treatment and remains optimistic about her future. Aunt Robin and nephew Garrett find themselves closer than ever to their target weights. Robin has shed over 200 pounds, and Garrett has lost over 100 pounds.
Both are now able to engage in walking and exercise, instilling them with hope for what lies ahead. Vianey and Allen, a couple who underwent surgery, face differing outcomes. Vianey's surgery has been successful, resulting in a weight loss of over 200 pounds. However, Allen has struggled with limited progress, having only shed a few pounds.
They both grapple with the contrasting results but maintain hope for their future. Octavia encounters setbacks but continues to persevere. Despite facing recent challenges, Octavia has managed to lose over 100 pounds. However, she has been diagnosed with diabetes and finds it difficult to control her blood sugar. Similarly, Aaron has experienced weight loss, but his mental health presents struggles.
He is currently participating in a treatment program and remains hopeful about his future. Lacey's weight loss progress slows down, while Mercedes and her children face financial hardship. Lacey is now encountering challenges in meeting her weight loss goals, experiencing a deceleration in progress. On the other hand, Mercedes and her children are in a precarious financial situation, struggling to make ends meet.
My 600-Pound Life Concept
Originally starting as a five-part miniseries featuring four severely obese individuals, this show gained significant popularity, leading to the production of new episodes. Season 4 included a special "Where Are They Now?" segment, providing updates on previous patients' weight-loss journeys months or even years after their bariatric surgery.
In Season 1, the filming spanned seven years from 2004 to 2011, showcasing the patients' long-term experiences. However, starting from Season 2, the filming duration was condensed to one year. In Season 8, certain patients' stories were captured over a period of only six months. As of Season 5, episodes were extended to two hours, deviating from the previous one-hour format.
This change was previously experimented with episodes such as "Melissa's Story" (presented in two parts) and "Lupe's Story." Additionally, recap episodes titled "Supersized" and "Extended" were introduced during this season, providing additional information and footage to enhance viewers' understanding.
My 600 Pound Life Where are They Now - FAQ
"My 600-lb Life" is a reality TV series that follows the lives of extremely obese individuals, weighing at least 600 pounds, as they strive to achieve a healthier weight over the course of a year.
Yes, the series includes "Where Are They Now?" update episodes that check in on the progress of previous patients after a year or more has passed since their initial episodes aired.
The patients receive treatment from Houston surgeon Younan Nowzaradan, commonly known as "Dr. Now."
Initially, Dr. Now guides the patients in attempting weight loss through a strict diet regimen. Based on their progress, he may offer surgical options like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy to further support their weight loss journey.
Dottie Perkins and Cynthia Wells returned in Season 6, Episode 3. Dottie struggled with her husband's drinking problem, while Cynthia achieved significant weight loss progress and was encouraged to continue her journey.