'My 600-lb Life' deaths: Here are the previous cast members of the TLC show who have tragically lost their lives, some due to extreme obesity.
Content warning: This article mentions suicide.
Folks who appear on My 600-Lb Life undergo dramatic transformations with the help and tough love of Dr. Now. But some of the former cast members have tragically lost their lives to obesity and the health problems — both physical and mental — associated with the condition.
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Below, we look back at the cast members who've sadly passed away since leaving the popular TLC show.
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Destinee LaShaee
Destinee LaShaee was well-known amongst fans of the reality show for being the first trans star of My 600-lb Life, and their story on the show was one of success. Appearing on Season 7 of the program with a starting weight just shy of 700 pounds, Destinee successfully shed over 500 pounds and served as an inspiration for others looking to do the same.
Destinee was always very vocal about mental health as well, discussing their struggles with depression on the show and social media alike. Unfortunately, the reality star, who also used the name Matthew Ventress, passed away on Feb. 8, 2022, as confirmed by brother Wayne Compton on Facebook. For reference, Wayne and Destinee also had another late sibling named Destiny.
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"No, no, no. I'm sorry, bro. I accept you for who you are. I accept every flaw that comes with you. I'm sorry you felt alone. I'm sorry you felt you had nobody else to turn to. I'm sorry you felt you had no other option. Destiny wouldn't have wanted this. Lord, why keep taking my siblings away? How much can I take?" Wayne wrote, accompanied by images of the duo with Destiny.
Destinee's cause of death has not officially been released, but it is believed to have been suicide.
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Gina Krasley
Gina arrived to Dr. Now's office in Season 8 and relocated from New Jersey with her wife, Beth, for Dr. Now's weight-loss program. Though she struggled to drop the weight Dr. Now requires of all his patients in order to be approved for surgery, off the show, Gina shared in March of 2021 that she had dropped 300 lbs.
"I did this for me and only me, and I did this on my own," she said on her YouTube channel. Sadly, in April 2021, she updated fans from inside her hospital room, where she mentioned she had gone after struggling with mobility issues, a possible infection, and an eating disorder.
Gina died on Aug. 1, 2021, at 30 years old. No official cause of death was listed in her obituary, which states that Gina was "surrounded by her loving family" when she passed away.
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Previously, Gina shared on her YouTube channel that she suffered from cellulitis and had been in the hospital. The CDC defines cellulitis as a "common bacterial skin infection that causes redness, swelling, and pain in the infected area of the skin. If untreated, it can spread and cause serious health problems."
She is survived by her wife, sister, and mother, who we are keeping in our thoughts.
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