You might have a lot of questions about My 600-lb Life.
Like, does Dr. Now really care about his patients?
What's the deal with all the enablers?
And can't the people on the show just make better choices?
The answers to these questions might surprise you, so let's weigh in on the false things
you can stop believing about My 600-lb Life.
"To live through what she has, and to be the person she is, that's beyond strength."
Dr. Now, as his patients call him, has become quite the reality TV star thanks to the popularity
of his show.
But some viewers might think that he basically just plays a doctor on TV, and isn't really
that great at what he does.
"Dr. Now and I have a game plan.
And if I decide I want to have more surgeries, I will."
But Dr. Now is actually a pioneer in his field, with a long and successful career in medicine.
For one, most doctors and hospitals won't accept patients over 450 pounds for weight
loss surgery because they don't have the right equipment, but Dr. Now accepts many patients
who far exceed that weight.
Additionally, he was the first doctor in all of Houston to use laparoscopic techniques
for groundbreaking procedures, and has published his work in prestigious medical journals.
So don't go thinking he just portrays a doctor on TV, this M.D. is the real deal.
Degree or no degree, Dr. Now is quite the character.
He's incredibly straightforward, usually to the point of bluntness, and doesn't feed his
patients pretty stories promising that they won't have to work hard.
Sometimes he can even seem overly clinical.
His occasionally odd manner with patients might make one wonder if he's just in it for
the money or the fame.
"This time next year, your life will be completely changed."
But the truth is, Dr. Now isn't necessarily banking the big bucks for the surgeries he
performs.
On the contrary, he says he's motivated by a sincere desire to help people enjoy healthy
and productive lives, not take them for everything they're worth.
He told Houstonia magazine,
"This is a very concerning pattern that you need to get a handle on.
Otherwise, this is going to lead you back to gain everything you lost."
Even though the patients on the show receive resources and surgery to help get them to
a healthier place in life, there's a lot that goes into filming the show.
"Suck it up buttercup, it's time to go.
Gotta get this done."
For one, there's always a camera around, so participants are always being watched.
And often, it's difficult for patients to make the trek even to see the doctor.
Often times they have to uproot their entire lives and relocate to Houston.
"It has been a long time since I've been in a car.
And now I'm going to be in one for at least 20 hours."
So you might wonder if participants are also getting a massive kickback to be featured
on the show.
In reality, the patients reportedly receive up to $1,500 as a "talent fee" plus a $2,500
relocation stipend if needed.
That's not a lot, especially when it comes to medical expenses.
Some patients who have been on the show have been open about financial struggles continuing
long after their stories have been broadcast around the world.
Some have spoken of trouble affording cars and transportation, while others have talked
about not having enough money to finance important medical procedures such as skin removal surgery.
Basically, just because someone was on TV doesn't mean they're rolling in the dough.
"There is not a day that goes by that I don't have pain."
There are a few things that all of the patients have in common on My 600-lb Life, and enduring
serious pain is definitely one of them.
Whether it's difficulty walking, driving, or trying to accomplish even the most basic
tasks, patients on the show have talked at length about how much they're hurting, both
physically and mentally.
"Being this overweight, everything I do is hard, and it's a struggle."
While you might be tempted to think that some patients are making things sound worse than
they are, they're likely not exaggerating.
According to a study in the Journal of Pain Research, obese individuals commonly report
that they do experience all kinds of chronic pain.
So if someone on the show says they're hurting, their pain is worth believing in.
One way or another, it's probably true.
As Dr. Now often says, most of the people on the show have enablers.
They're usually family members who are complicit in a patient's compulsive overeating.
"Ready for breakfast?"
"Thought you'd never ask."
"Alright."
Often, enablers don't just tolerate the overeating, they'll also bring patients the very food
that's essentially killing them.
So you could ask: Once Dr. Now puts his patients on a diet, why don't these enablers just stop
bringing the extra food?
"If I don't do what she wants, it's a war zone."
"I asked for one f---ing thing."
The psychology of addiction and enabling is actually quite complicated.
From fear of hurting their feelings, or retaliation from the addict, to a desire to be liked or
loved, enabling behavior can be quite a challenge to overcome.
"It doesn't look like he lost any weight.
You are killing him."
According to Psychology Today, "fat phobia" runs rampant in society, and it complicates
the lives of the obese in a variety of ways.
That includes the widespread belief that obese people are lazy and lack willpower, and are
solely responsible for their body size.
And many people believe that the patients on My 600-lb Life could just stop eating if
they really wanted to.
"I'm really feeling the need for a little indulgence."
But longtime viewers know how hard it can be for patients to make the changes they need
for their very survival.
"I know their situation has a lot to do with what I allowed to happen when they were kids.
But it's still hard to sit there as their mom and not do something about it."
This is exactly why Dr. Now will often send patients to receive psychological counseling
to help them deal with the issues that compel them to eat.
Once they face their demons, they often find that they can better control their dietary
intake.
Most people know that losing weight can be extremely difficult.
That's one reason why weight loss surgery is so popular, it helped many people lose
weight and transform their lives.
And according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, even more
of these procedures are being performed every year.
"I know surgery is risky, but not having it is riskier."
But the reality is, weight loss surgery is no quick fix, a fact Dr. Now is quick to point
out.
He told Houstonia,
"This will help him to continue to lose weight, but this is really just the beginning for
Doug."
Just like he often says on the show, surgery is a tool to help patients gain control over
their food addiction.
But they have to put in the hard work of adopting healthy eating and exercise habits for the
rest of their lives.
That's not an easy task.
It's not easy being obese.
Beyond the physical struggles, people of a certain size face widespread bias, including
the misconception that larger people are doomed to be unlucky in love.
As a result, some people might think that the clients on the show are doomed to a life
of solitude.
"He has no idea how close to death I feel every day."
But regular viewers know that nothing could be farther from the truth.
In fact, many patients already have romantic partners when they enroll in Dr. Now's program.
"What do you see in our future?"
"Nothing."
Romantic partnerships can sometimes fall apart during the show if one of the partners is
uncomfortable with their loved one making changes, but even then, those patients regularly
go on to find new love.
Another thing that many patients on My 600-lb Life have in common is the tragic life experience
of childhood trauma.
"My step-dad started to abuse me and my siblings."
Some participants grew up in a chaotic household with parents addicted to drugs or alcohol,
some were abused by an adult figure in their lives, some were subjected to violence, and
others survived assault.
But is it really possible that childhood trauma can cause someone to eat their way to 600
pounds?
The answer is a resounding yes.
According to Dr. Judith J. Wurtman, writing for Psychology Today,
"Sometimes we think we're hungry for food, when we're really hungry for purpose."
Those sad stories are often about how a painful childhood trauma altered an individual's psychology
to the point where their compulsive overeating couldn't be controlled.
And the show reveals, in extreme cases, just how devastating the impact of these painful
events experienced in early life can really be.
"Food was my comfort, through good and bad situations, but it didn't help with some of
the s--- that was going on."
Quite often, when patients first arrive at Dr. Now's office and step on the scale, they're
surprised to see how much they actually weigh.
While it must be extremely difficult to be confronted by the reality of how much weight
they've gained, the reactions can make one wonder.
Wouldn't the average person already know that they've tipped the scales over 600 pounds,
given how many calories they take in every day?
"I can't face the reality of how many calories I eat, so I just don't keep track at all."
The answer is, not exactly.
The truth is, many patients truly don't realize how out of control things have gotten until
they're confronted with some hard numbers.
For one, most bathroom scales only measure up to 300 pounds, so there's often no way
for them to get an accurate read on their weight.
Even scales you find at most doctor's offices aren't built to weigh someone who weighs 600
pounds or more.
That's why Dr. Now has a custom scale in his office that can weigh up to 900 pounds.
If you've been avoiding the numbers long enough, catching a first glimpse at your real weight
can be a definite shock.
"725."
My 600-lb.
Life has gotten so popular that TLC created a spin-off series, Where Are They Now, which
follows up on previous participants and the progress they've made.
"The last two years have been the most life-changing years of my life."
It's usually a heart warming story, as many patients continue to make solid progress,
and are much happier than they were before surgery.
"I feel womanly and sassy.
It takes a lot for me to feel sassy."
But if you're hoping to see every single star's follow-up episode, that's not gonna happen.
For some, the realities of filming a reality show aren't exactly positive.
For example, Season 3's Amber has expressed several issues she had with the production
company.
She told Starcasm,
But even considering her unfortunate experience, Amber also stresses that she doesn't regret
her surgery, and that Dr. Now is, quote, "truly wonderful."
Some people like to say that a person's weight is simply the result of the calories they
take in, versus the calories they burn on a daily basis.
Additionally, some folks think it's easy to make healthy choices, and simply eat when
they're hungry and stop when they're full.
If all that were true for everyone, it should be easy for an obese person to lose weight.
Right?
Well, it's actually much more complicated than that.
"I don't feel entitled, but I want what I want, and when I don't get it I get pissed
off."
Dr. Now wrote in Obesity Help,
The evidence is clear: when it comes to gaining and losing weight, there's a lot more at play
than a person's willpower.
Another popular weight-loss-themed reality show is The Biggest Loser, in which obese
contestants compete against one another to see who loses the most weight.
The winner is awarded a cash prize, and of course, the title of "Biggest Loser."
"I feel like a new man.
I'm in the best shape of my life."
But the production of the series came under scrutiny when it was revealed that the techniques
used on the show didn't typically lead to long-term weight loss.
"Day one, funnest day in the world.
Jump on, 15 seconds, go."
According to the Harvard Health Letter, the hormonal changes that some participants endured
during the competition eventually caused them to just regain the weight.
Additionally, evidence suggests that the best weight-loss solution for those who are severely
obese is surgery, not competing to see who can do the most jumping jacks.
So it's clear that the techniques used on The Biggest Loser are drastically different
than those of My 600-lb Life.
Sure, Dr. Now requires all of his patients to eat a healthy diet, get exercise, and stick
to the program, but he's sure not shipping them off to boot camp.
This doctor's not in it to entertain people, he's there to get results.
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