TLC’s show My 600-lb Life offers a harrowing look at those who are life-threateningly overweight. Each episode of the reality TV show follows a different individual’s weight-loss journey, and no two are the same.

This week, we’re following a young woman named Jacky. After an extremely traumatic childhood, she finds herself with over 500 pounds to lose, and now she’s turning to Dr. Now to help gain back control of her life.

Jacky Had A Rough Start To Life

This week we’re following Jacky, a 27-year-old woman, making her the youngest person featured on the season so far. While walking around home, she describes herself as feeling “stuck” beneath her own stomach, which hangs nearly all the way down to the ground. She currently lives in a cabin with her grandparents, where she feels overly cramped. She explains that her aunt is like a second parent to her, coming over and cooking her favorite foods.

Growing up, Jacky was raised by an alcoholic mother who, she says, used to beat her with a belt. To make matters worse, her father also had anger issues and was often violent, punching holes in the walls. Jacky says the instability in her home drove her to eat “bigger and bigger” portions of food as a source of comfort. At this point, Jacky’s lost both of her parents, and she holds a job in customer service so that she doesn’t need to be on her feet throughout the day or face people in public.

Jacky admits that she knows she’s close to becoming bed-bound if she doesn’t make a change soon:

Jacky Begins Her Weight-Loss Journey

Eventually Jacky makes the five-hour drive to see Dr. Now with her grandfather. She’s embarrassed when she weighs in at 709 pounds, telling Dr. Now that she’s struggled with her weight since she was just four-year-old. He tells her that even more important than her exercise is her diet, and that with the new eating plan he’s prescribing her, she should be able to lose 100 pounds in one month.

Dr. Now tells the cameras that the only reason Jacky’s body is able to keep functioning at over 700 pounds is because she’s so young, but if she waits much longer, she’ll be in true danger. Back at home, Jacky starts implementing salads into her diet as well as exercise breaks in the morning and evening, but at her next check-in, she’s only lost 20 pounds, and Dr. Now sends her away again to lose 70 pounds in the next two months.

Jacky recommits herself to exercising even more, telling the cameras that her health journey isn’t just for her, but for her loved ones, too:

At her next appointment, Jacky’s lost another 20 pounds, making it apparent to Dr. Now that she’s still occasionally overeating. He tells the cameras he doesn’t yet see the commitment he needs from her in order to approve her for weight-loss surgery.

Back home, Jacky starts working with a personal trainer, aiming to exercise every day to get her weight down. That said, she’s had some slip-ups, eating things that aren’t a part of her diet plan during emotional moments, and by her seven-month check-in, she’s gained 17 pounds.

“For all these months I’ve seen you, you’ve done nothing to change your life,” Dr. Now tells her. As a next step, he says he’ll set her up with a therapist, but if she doesn’t lose weight by their next appointment, he’s going to give up on working with her. When Jacky speaks with the therapist, he remarks that she’s witnessed a lot of death in her life and that she should allow herself to cry instead of feeling embarrassed by her emotions. In order to manage her feelings, he encourages her to start journaling. “I know I have to let some of this stuff out,” she says.

In the end, the work Jacky puts into her emotional journey proves worth it: she loses over 80 pounds and is approved for weight-loss surgery. Dr. Now removes nearly 85% of her stomach during the procedure, which will help her practice portion control going forward. After the surgery, we see Jacky moving around the cabin, cooking for herself, and she proudly tells the cameras that she’s actually ahead of schedule when it comes to losing weight. Shortly after her procedure, she’s shed another 40 pounds.

Jacky’s aunt says that it’s nice to see Jacky being able to return to enjoying life again. When we leave them, they’re on a trip to the park, feeding animals through the car windows, and Jacky seems happier than ever.

My 600 Lb Life

Release Date

February 1, 2012

Network

TLC

Showrunner

Jonathan Nowzaradan

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