Samantha Mason's story is one of the most talked-about journeys featured on TLC's "My 600-Lb. Life." Her desperation to save her life led her to contact the show, but her experience was fraught with challenges, accusations, and ultimately, transformation. This article delves into Samantha's journey, her struggles, her weight loss success, and the controversies surrounding her involvement with the show.
Introduction to "My 600-Lb. Life"
"My 600-Lb. Life" is an American reality television series that has aired on TLC since 2012. Each episode follows a year in the life of morbidly obese individuals, who usually begin the episode weighing at least 600 pounds (270 kg), and documents their attempts to reduce their weight to a healthy level. Patients are placed under the care of Houston surgeon Younan Nowzaradan (often referred to as "Dr. Now"). The show documents their struggles, triumphs, and the complex emotional and physical challenges they face. Many patients admit they turn to food to deal with their emotions or to heal from past traumas. The series was originally a five-part miniseries involving four morbidly obese patients. In Season 1, patients were filmed over seven years (2004-2011). Beginning with Season 2, patients were filmed for only one year. Beginning with Season 5, new episodes were two hours long instead of one hour. This was previously done with "Melissa's Story" (which was in two parts) and "Lupe's Story". The show has also spawned spin-offs, including "My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?" which updates viewers on the weight loss journeys of people featured in previous seasons.
Samantha's Initial Struggles and Motivation
Samantha Mason, a mom from Colorado, entered the show as one of its heaviest patients. She contacted the show because she feared for her life and desperately wanted Dr. Now's help. Before agreeing to do the show, Samantha says she didn’t think things were as bad as they turned out to be for her.
A unique aspect of Samantha's story was her unusual career, which contributed to her weight gain. As a fetish model, she made videos of herself for a paying audience of viewers who derive sexual pleasure from watching overweight people eating. As quoted by Hollywood Life, Samantha explains, "I eat for people. I just eat what I want and they pay for it, as long as I film it. So that's how I make a living and keep going, and it makes me feel appreciated." In the preview clip provided by TLC, we see Samantha eating an entire carrot cake for the camera. As she polishes off the last crumbs, she tells her audience, "We've come to the saddest part of this situation, and that's the end of this cake."
While her daughter credited the job with improving her mom's self-image because "people see her as beautiful," Samantha knew that it was also risking her life. "I found the perfect community to reinforce my worst habits," she said. "I last weighed in six months ago legitimately, and I was at 811 pounds." In fact, it appeared that Samantha was so dangerously obese that she couldn't arrange the cross-country transport to see Dr. Now in Houston.
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Weight Loss and Transformation
Through bariatric surgery, Samantha lost over 470 pounds within a year. This significant weight loss was a testament to her commitment to changing her life.
Samantha's Accusations and Concerns About the Show
Despite her weight loss success, Samantha has voiced strong criticisms of "My 600-Lb. Life." She feels the show intended to embarrass her and opened her up to receive judgment and hate from viewers. Samantha accused producers of having ulterior motives for sharing her story. She also questioned the show’s credibility by stating many of her conversations with Dr. Now were staged. She says since her appearance, her family members have been contacted multiple times by the show despite refusing to give a statement or participate in any additional filming.
Addressing Emotional and Psychological Challenges
Samantha's journey extended beyond physical transformation. She spent time in a rehab facility to help control her food cravings and addiction. Samantha has also gone to therapy and speaks openly about her struggles with depression and isolation. To prevent herself from using food to cope with these feelings, she has started to use art as an outlet instead.
Controversies and Lawsuits Surrounding "My 600-Lb. Life"
Samantha's negative experiences with the show are not unique. In 2018, several news outlets reported that several former patients of Dr. Nowzaradan who appeared on the series, as well as the family of one patient, L.B. Bonner, who died by suicide, had brought suits against the show's production company, Megalomedia, alleging negligence and claiming that the company failed to cover medical costs. Plaintiff Destinee LaShaee, the first transgender participant to appear on the show, sued the show after claiming it did not provide the mental health treatments it promised. A total of ten lawsuits were filed, which were later consolidated into a single proceeding on May 20, 2020. Megalomedia requested summary judgment, which was denied via the judge not ruling on its motion within the time required under Texas law. These lawsuits raise serious questions about the show's practices and its impact on the well-being of its participants.
Tragic Losses and the Show's Impact
Sadly, several individuals who have appeared on "My 600-Lb. Life" have passed away, highlighting the severe health risks associated with morbid obesity. Rob Buchel, who was featured on the sixth season of the show, suffered a fatal heart attack on November 15, 2017, during the filming of the show, while staying in a skilled nursing facility in Houston. Kelly Mason, a participant in the show's seventh season, died on February 15, 2019, from heart failure at the age of 41. Sean Milliken, who was chronicled on the fourth season of the show and his story is continued in My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? in seasons three, four and five, died on February 17, 2019, from infection complications. He lost 400 pounds, but regained about 150 pounds after his mother's death. Coliesa McMillian, featured on the show's eighth season, died on September 22, 2020, after being treated in ICU for two weeks due to acute kidney failure and other complications related to weight loss surgery. Renee Biran, featured on the show's sixth season, died on May 14, 2021. Gina Krasley, featured on the show's eighth season, died on August 1, 2021. Ashley Randall, featured on the show's first season, died of sepsis, complications related to sepsis, and pneumonia on October 2, 2021. Laura Ann Perez, featured on the show’s third season, died on November 17, 2021. Destinee LaShaee, the first transgender patient who appeared in the show's seventh season, died on February 8, 2022, at the age of 31. Angela Gutierrez, featured on the show's seventh season, died on March 21, 2023. Dottie Perkins, featured on the show's fourth season, died after a long battle with an illness on June 14, 2025. Lupe Samano, featured on the show's fourth season, died on September 12, 2025. These deaths serve as a somber reminder of the life-threatening nature of morbid obesity and the challenges individuals face in their weight loss journeys.
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Spin-offs: "Where Are They Now?" and "Skin Tight"
Beginning in January 2015, TLC began airing "My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?" The purpose of this spin-off was to update viewers on the weight loss journeys of people featured in previous seasons. As of 2024, nine seasons of the "Where Are They Now?" In 2016, a second spin-off, "Skin Tight," began airing, showing people who struggle with the excess skin remaining after their weight loss successes.
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