“My 600-Lb. Life” Star Latonya Pottain Dies at 40 in Shreveport

Shreveport's Latonya Pottain has died, according to the Natchitoches Parish Coroner's Office. Pottain gained popularity after she appeared on TLC's "My 600-Lb Life" in 2022. The former reality star died on May 17th at the age of 40..

While an official cause of death has not been released, preliminary findings suggest congestive heart failure. During her time on the show, which aired in 2022, she was hospitalized with heart issues. Pottain was featured in Season 11, Episode 2 of "My 600-Lb Life," an episode many found truly heartbreaking. For those unfamiliar with her story, a clip is available below.

During her journey on "My 600-Lb. Life," Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, known as Dr. Now, tasked Latonya with an initial weight loss goal of 40 to 50 pounds. The show's objective is to help morbidly obese patients reach a weight healthy enough for bypass surgery, which aids further weight loss. Latonya initially found success, losing 48 pounds in two weeks during a hospital stay on a controlled diet. Unfortunately, she struggled to maintain this momentum and did not meet the subsequent requirements for surgery.

Tragically, the challenges Dr. Now warned Latonya about persisted after her time on the show. A GoFundMe campaign created on her behalf in February 5th, 2025 stated she had been bedridden since June 2024. The campaign aimed to raise funds for transportation and therapy to help her regain mobility, noting she had approached her highest weight of 740 pounds. A description on the GoFundMe page detailed her struggles: "After the show aired, I experienced overwhelming backlash, which sent me into a deep depression. My mental health suffered, and I became fearful of undergoing weight loss surgery."