My 600-Lb Life Stories That Didn't End Well

Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, known to his patients as Dr. Now, may seem like an unlikely reality television star. However, he's the only person who appears in every episode of My 600-lb Life (in a significant role), and his skills as a surgeon are the reason why. Additionally, the veteran surgeon is not known for small talk, other than his customary, "Hello. How y'all doing?" greeting. But once that's out of the way, he is direct and honest with his patients, letting them know what they're facing without diminishing their humanity. 

Oftentimes, Dr. Now has given his patients a reality check, which isn't surprising given that the data available about the conditions related to obesity can be quite sobering. Some of the potential co-morbidities include social stigmatization and discrimination, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, stroke, heart disease, depression, cancer, arthritis, and gout. Yikes, yikes, and yikes.

Many of the patients on the show eventually lose weight after therapy, diet modifications, increased exercise, and weight loss surgery. But, sadly, some of the show's stars either can't make the changes needed to get healthier or pass away due to stress on the body.