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My 600lb Life-Where Do They Get All Their Money From?

(21 Posts)
barmcake Mon 20-Apr-26 17:02:52

I've noticed that a lot of obese people on the programme have skinny partners. I suspect some of them may be 'feeders'. I've also heard Dr Now suggest that they want to keep their partner obese to keep carer payments going.

The poor people that have to clear and clean faeces is horrendous when they get to fat to get out of bed.

Renata1079 Mon 20-Apr-26 08:10:51

My daughter was obsessed with watching "My 600lb Life" on T.V., while her pre-school daughter was still at home. I believe this programme has had a terrible effect on my granddaughter, who is now 20. She is not actually anorexic, but is painfully thin. She eats like a bird, and I think she absorbed this sad programme her mother was watching regularly, and seems to have developed a fear of food. As a tiny child, and seeing these sad and seriously obese people with a food addiction, constantly stuffing their faces - I believe she has associated eating anything at all with becoming obese.

Dickens Sun 19-Apr-26 23:20:16

keepingquiet

I used to watch this years ago but don't any more. It was pretty obvious to me that they get their money from the TV producers because without being able to get them to Dr Now's clinic there wouldn't be a programme.

I wouldn't watch it now because it is exploitative.

I also used to watch the programme some time ago - not regularly, just the odd case that came up on my FB feed.

I did feel a tad uncomfortable watching these women - and men - like you say, it is exploitative.

Their money obviously comes from their participation in the programme plus - I assume - welfare payments. But the indignities they have to suffer to make 'good' television is pretty awful.

One of the worst aspects is the obvious enabling of family members, many of whom are obese themselves. Oh, and the 'boyfriends' who lovingly fill up their plates with all the fried, greasy, calorie-laden food they can find in order to satisfy some perverted need of their own.

It's all a bit too much, I don't watch it anymore.

FranP Sun 19-Apr-26 23:16:36

It is the enablers that keep bringing them food

M0nica Sun 19-Apr-26 22:04:59

Do not forget that the quality of the food the people on these programmes are eating is very poor indeed. Recent studies and reearch has shown how in this country the larger the proportion of UPF in your diet the worse your weight and the worse your health. In the states the quality of the food the poorest eat is shockingly bad and overprocessed, plus the way cattle and other animals is raised, where they are overloaded with drugs of all kinds to make them grow large but stay 'healthy'. Grains will carry pesticide and herbicide traces into the human food chain

The formula of the past - energy in should equal energy out is, now known to be simplistic. The body metabolises different foods in different ways and all the research to date seems to show that the whole metabolic system struggles when so much of what it is eaten is about as far from good wholesome igredients as is possible.

I have only occasionally seen these programmes and I have noticed that all these extreme cases are surrounded by heavily overweight family members. One programme remains seared in my memory. Someone had just come out of hospital after a weight reduction operation and the whole family were sitting round with heaps of fast food, and giving a baby bits of a hamburger to nibble. The baby was well under a year old.

Lesley60 Sun 19-Apr-26 21:40:14

NannyPT
I’ve often thought that myself and have you noticed that most of them use paper plates, I don’t get that either

Plevey08 Sun 19-Apr-26 17:25:46

I think it is so sad that much earlier personalised interventions aren't offered for all types of addiction. In the US you'd need private health care to pay for it. Here there is some offered on the NHS albeit not targeted/long term or supported enough. it would, if funded properly be cost saving. However no government has been smart or brave enough to commit to it. How can they in toxic politics. It should be a cross party commitment for all parties to adhere to, regardless of who comes into power.

Mojack26 Sun 19-Apr-26 17:22:14

You've said it all...BENEFITS....

Greciangirl Sun 19-Apr-26 16:38:46

Rubbish TV.

Shanksy Sun 19-Apr-26 16:19:18

These individuals are hoping for help to reach a more healthy weight.As for money that is a private thing.

dotpocka Sun 19-Apr-26 14:44:59

all show reality/and any other ones tooo
www.thethings.com/who-pays-bills-for-my-600-pound-life-cast-members/

mama june gets according to the legal filings, Mama June's "earns approximately $25,000 per month".
It pays to be a reality star, at least on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Nene Leakes comes out on top of a well-paid cast at $2.5 million this season. See the ladies' salary reveal: ow.ly/NMPI30hoSK5

PattyFingers Sun 19-Apr-26 14:29:38

Surely they must have been really huge before they got on the program. I couldn't afford to eat enough to get so enormous in the first place.

keepingquiet Thu 16-Apr-26 15:51:12

I used to watch this years ago but don't any more. It was pretty obvious to me that they get their money from the TV producers because without being able to get them to Dr Now's clinic there wouldn't be a programme.

I wouldn't watch it now because it is exploitative.

fancyflowers Thu 16-Apr-26 15:17:36

Dr. Nowzardan is fantastic. His patience with some of his clients is legendary. He keeps them going where many other doctors would have given up on them.

It's true that the vast majority of the obese people have had horrible childhoods, with abusive parents, poverty and in some cases homelessness. They eat to deal with the trauma.

NannyPT Thu 16-Apr-26 14:13:02

I never thought there would be a Wiki article about the program and have just read it. It's very sad that some of the people featured have had such adverse experiences most often in their younger lives which drove them to emotional overeating. I think that Dr Now is a fabulous doctor and I hope he gets job satisfaction from those he helps. Some seem to mess about and don't stick to his advice, perhaps not realising what danger they are in.

Witzend Thu 16-Apr-26 11:43:12

twaddle

It's an American programme and it seems like "fat porn" for the interest of a peculiar form of voyeurism.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_600-lb_Life

When my mother had dementia and was well past being able to follow anything with a plot, I’d sometimes put a similar programme (American extreme obesity) on for her to watch.
She would be more or less glued to it, saying, ‘Dear oh dear! Dear oh dear!’ over and over.

I’d had to be careful with formerly popular wildlife programmes, since more than once she had thought there was e.g, a polar bear rampaging about upstairs.

Cossy Thu 16-Apr-26 11:28:57

Well there’s your answer, being partially funded by the tv show. No idea where the rest of the cash came from and frankly I really don’t care. I think it’s so sad this is on tv, that they got so heavy in the first instance and that people seem to enjoy watching it.

twaddle Thu 16-Apr-26 11:15:26

It's an American programme and it seems like "fat porn" for the interest of a peculiar form of voyeurism.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_600-lb_Life

Usedtobeblonde Thu 16-Apr-26 11:11:13

Of course it is none of your business but it is of general interest.
I watched some of theses programmes a few years ago and I agree, they spend hundreds of dollars on food every week but never leave the house so must be living on either welfare or the money from the programmes.
I didn’t know the programme was still on as the Dr doing the ops looked too old to be operating then so he must be either dead or in his dotage now.

Cossy Thu 16-Apr-26 10:10:30

I’ve no idea and don’t watch this programme. I’m very overweight, but nowhere near this and they should have received help long before they reached their extraordinary weights.

Is this a UK or USA programme?

I don’t really care where they get their money from, it’s none of my business.

NannyPT Thu 16-Apr-26 09:56:26

This is one of my favourite programs, especially when some clients do well and their lives are transformed. I cannot understand though how they have enough money to run a car, eat vast quantities of food and afford day to day living expenses as well. They all seem to be very well off and don't go without anything. Most of them are on disability benefit. I don't understand it at all. Does anyone ?