My 600lb Life star has died at age 40

A woman who once bravely shared her health struggles with millions of viewers has passed away at the age of 40.

Known for her emotional honesty and the challenges she faced with her physical and mental health, her journey was documented publicly and resonated deeply with audiences across the country.

She died on Saturday, May 17, at a medical center in Shreveport, Louisiana, leaving behind a story marked by pain, resilience, and the fight for change.

Only now is it being confirmed that the woman was Latonya Pottain, a participant in season 11 of My 600-lb Life. She weighed 632 pounds when she first appeared on the show and had long battled severe health issues stemming from obesity.

According to early autopsy findings, Pottain’s cause of death was congestive heart failure. Her brother shared that she was having difficulty breathing on the morning of her death and was visibly unwell. Later that day, she was rushed to the hospital while going into cardiac arrest.

Pottain’s story captured the emotional toll of living with extreme obesity. In one scene from the series, she heartbreakingly confessed that food had become her escape: “That’s what I do to help me cope with things.”

Despite early motivation, her journey was complicated. After briefly joining Dr. Nowzaradan’s program years earlier at 482 lbs, she returned heavier and more physically limited. Hospitalized during filming, she managed to drop some weight on a controlled diet but later clashed with Dr. Now over food restrictions.

In 2023, she revealed publicly that she had reached over 700 pounds and was completely bedridden. Her final public message was a plea for support via Facebook and GoFundMe, expressing that her heart was failing — and that doctors in Louisiana could do no more.