Melissa has isolated herself at home and lost many friends to avoid feeling the shame of what her food addiction has done to her body. Now, the only way to get her life back is to leave it behind to start a new one with Dr. Now's help in Houston.

Kenae' was already big before her weight gain took off after the death of her beloved mother. Refusing to deal with the pain, Kenae' turned to food to fill the void. But she'll be reunited with her mom soon if the denial continues.

Krystal began overeating to shield herself with a protective layer of obesity after suffering years of abuse. Once a means of protection, her pathological eating now threatens to destroy her life if she doesn't get help.

Isaac helped raise his siblings after his mom suffered a debilitating stroke when he was 10. While learning to cook for his family, he began comfort-eating. Now to avoid eating himself to death, Isaac must learn to take care of himself for a change.

A lifetime of abuse and ridicule has left Michael anxious and afraid to leave the house. Now with the help of his devoted wife he must follow Dr. Now's program to keep from eating himself to death.

Shannon's husband loves her the way she is, but that may not help because she's 700 pounds and bedridden. Dr. Now knows it's not easy to break a toxic cycle of overfeeding and enabling, but that's what needs to happen if Shannon wants to live past 40.

Irene had to move back in with her son because her weight made it unbearable to live on her own. When Dr. Now can't get through to her, the only thing that might help her break the cycle is a once-in-a-lifetime turn of events.

Through tough times, food has always been Tammy's friend. But now she has gotten so big that her daughters and mother have moved home to care for her, and unless Dr. Now can get her to confront her grief, food might be her killer.

Having her daughters help bathe her is not how Chrystal pictured parenting, but she is so large now that there's no other option. Chrystal wants Dr. Now's help, but she didn't know that bringing her childhood trauma to light would be part of the deal.

John & Lonnie are two brothers from opposite ends of the spectrum. For years estranged, the brothers are now brought together by a common need to lose weight while they still can.

Lindsey has a white picket fence, a loving husband and a great job, but her food addiction threatens to ruin everything; as she embarks on a weight loss journey to save her life, her husband may provide more harm than support.

J.T. is almost 900lbs with a 100-lb lymphedema mass on his leg and a food addiction that is bound to kill him if he doesn't change. His girlfriend takes him to Houston, but when his behavior drives her away, J.T. is left with only Dr. Now to help.

When Travis got too big to walk down the aisle, he promised to give his wife a proper wedding one day. Since then he's only gained weight. Now, Dr. Now is Travis's only hope to lose weight and get the life he and his wife dreamed of having together.

Joyce needs home health care 24/7 and hasn't left the house in years. But getting to Dr. Now in Houston is just the first step, and when he prescribes therapy where Joyce must revisit an unhappy past with her mom, it may be more than she can handle.

Shantel's brother Carlton lives downstairs but she hardly ever sees him because at 600+ lbs each, neither can do the stairs safely. They need Dr. Now's help to break free from a death spiral of codependent eating & reforge their sibling relationship.

Seana is 23 and nearly 700 lbs, living at her mom's house, depressed and anxious, her weight-gain threatening to take her last breath. Dr. Now can give her the tools she needs to live, but until she chooses life, no one can save Seana but Seana.

At 600 pounds, Ashley has to move home so her mom can help her care for herself and her newborn daughter; Ashley must overcome a lifetime’s worth of unfortunate circumstances and get Dr. Now’s help in Houston.

Tommy wants to lose weight so he can marry his fiancee and have the life he always dreamed of, but to break the cycle of pathological eating, he’ll have to face a piece of his past he has always kept secret.

The four best reasons for Coliesa to live are her daughters. But after a heart attack and losing the love of her life in a car crash, Coliesa eats non-stop to escape from reality, and ... See full summary »

Dominic's life is falling apart due to his food addiction; over 600 pounds and living in a van with his brother, he decides to leave California for Texas, where only Dr. Now can help him learn to face life's challenges without using food to cope.

At 24 years old and over 600 lbs, Megan lives at home with her mom, who cooks for her since Megan can't do much on her own; Megan must travel to Houston to meet Dr Now and change her eating habit or her life may end before it ever begins.

Ashley is 24 and lives alone; her only sources of comfort are food and the relationships she has online; but not a single one of her profiles is real; Ashley learns that Dr Now isn't someone she can lie to like her online friends.

Octavia has been bedbound for nearly a year when she decides to make the trip to Houston to get help from Dr. Now, but when it turns out that her best friend is also her worst enabler, Octavia will have to choose between old habits and a new life.

At over 700 pounds, Brianne undertakes a weight-loss journey to save her own life; she faces an unexpected challenge to her fragile progress when her husband suffers a heart attack on a birthday she will never forget.

Robin and her brother Chris are both obese and already lost a sibling to obesity; they plan to visit Dr. Now together when Chris suffers a stroke and can't go; Chris' son Garrett, already 600 pounds at age 20, is game to join the journey.

A college graduate with a once-promising career, Justin has eaten his life away to the point of never leaving the house for anything but food; only the help of Dr. Now's weight-loss program can restore his hopes of living a happy, productive life.

Holly already has one failed weight loss surgery, so to succeed this time, she must do more than change her eating habits, she must address the childhood issues that continue to plague her.

Lacey ballooned up over 600 lbs on pizza and ice cream and knows Dr. Now is her best hope for success; she must now rally her divorced parents around her for support and find a way to modulate her moods that won't include binge-eating.

Brandon is a talented musician with a beautiful voice and a run-away weight problem; he wants to lose weight and embark on a career; he also wants to take the next step with his girlfriend, Taylor, whom he risks losing if he can't make a change.

Maja moves to Houston to undertake a difficult weight-loss journey with the support of her boyfriend, Christian; when Christian decides he's had enough and leaves Maja high and dry, she discovers that the only person she can count on is herself.

Despite moving to Houston with the solid support of her boyfriend, Aaron, and her cousin, Jasmine, Tiffany finds it difficult to break the cycle of depressed eating when her two roommates don't join her diet and leave the house every day for work.

Born as "Matthew," Destinee never felt like she fit in; now, having come out as a 600-pound transgender woman, she likes her curves, but she will need to say goodbye to them if she wants to be approved to transition completely.

Jeanne lives in an unhygienic household with her mother and schizophrenic father; at well over 600 pounds, Jeanne might never get weight-loss surgery as she runs into several obstacles, especially after an unexpected death in her family.

Since the death of his mother, Aaron lives at home to care for his aging father, but due to his food addiction, Aaron has to heavily rely on his father for help instead; Aaron must learn to care for himself to avoid eating himself to death.

Kelly is on the verge of immobility when she decided to make the trip to Houston to visit Dr. Now; Her journey gets off to a painful start when a long travel day grows longer as Kelly gets stuck in a cab on her way from the clinic to the hospital.

When Annjeanette was nine, a campaign was established to send her to fat camp; she hated that her weight had become a source of public shame and she has struggled to overcome her food addiction; now, she must change her habits to save her life.

When Annjeannette was 9, a campaign was established to send her to fat camp. She hated that her weight had become a source of public shame and she has struggled to overcome her food addiction. Now, she must change her habits to save her life.

Mercedes, who has severe lymphedema, must overcome trauma to lose weight.

At over 600 pounds, Angie is trying to get to Houston to see Dr. Nowzaradan, in hope of getting weight loss surgery to save her life; family conflict and disagreements may stop her from being able to do what she needs before she even gets the chance.

Weighing over 600 lbs. each, Vianey and Allen are locked in a codependent relationship based on a shared love of food. As they head to Houston, they will soon find out if their relationship can handle the strain of growing healthy together.

As Steven heals from his weight loss surgery, his brother Justin finally decides to come to Texas to get the same procedure, but his feelings toward Steven immediately begin to sabotage his hopes of surgery.

A year since her weight loss journey began, Janine is still in the 500s and mostly immobile, and now, Dr. Nowzaradan is running out of options for how to treat her if she can't find a way to control her eating habit and start walking again.

Lee's anger issues continue to jeopardize his relationship with Rena and threatens to derail both of their weight loss journeys; a major life event sends Sarah into a depression that she must pull herself out of if she wants to keep losing weight.

In the fourth year of his weight-loss journey, Sean struggles to get past the loss of his mother and live on his own; Dr. Now intervenes to control Sean's eating for a time.

Liz has gone from being bedbound with lymphedemas on both legs, to standing and walking, but old fears are about to threaten her progress; if Jenn and Marissa can't get along as mother and daughter to lose weight, they'll have to proceed apart.

For Milla Clark, after 3 years and 5 surgeries, success would mean beating the odds, and becoming of on Dr. Nowzaradan's most impressive weight-loss patients ever, but failure would mean slipping back to the bed-bound life she swore she'd never return to.

Pauline's self-destructive behavior continues to be a problem; Chad strives to be a better father and husband as he continues his journey; June's progress stalls when frequent travel and wedding plans cause her to slip back into bad habits.

After meeting and falling in love at a bariatric rehab center, Lee and Rena are battling health and anger issues while making a desperate, second attempt to save their lives.

A woman whose extreme obesity has left her nearly immobile must overcome both her physical and emotional pain if she is ever to live a normal life again.

A devoted girlfriend and loving aunt, Alicia is all smiles and laughter on the outside, but on the inside she is terrified that her addiction to food will kill her before she can marry her long-time love or watch her nieces grow up.

A woman with two children weighs more than 600 pounds, so she agrees to go on an extreme new diet, but her weight-loss efforts are threatened by her debilitating habits and a child’s health emergency.

James LB Bonner spent his early life trying to prove himself to his adoptive family, but after losing a leg and battling obesity, LB must take a new path to save his health and his family relationships.

Lisa's struggle with her weight begins as a child and significantly worsens after witnessing her brother's murder; now bedridden and unable to care for herself, she must lose the weight or she will never see her grandchildren grow up.

Now bedridden and unable to care for herself, Lisa must find a way to lose the weight or she will never see her grandchildren grow up.

After years of a tumultuous relationship with her husband, Tamy's eating addiction causes her weight to balloon over 500 pounds; she becomes a hermit after years of shame and hopes to restart her life so she can better care for her son, Zachary.

Fearing that he'll suffer the same fate as older brother David, now 700 pounds and unable to work, Benji hopes to be able to support both himself and his brother on their life-or-death weight loss journey.

A former plus-size model and "big is beautiful" advocate, Renee realizes the mortal mistakes she made as her weight swells to 600 pounds and her health crumbles.

A 24-year-old woman weighs more than 600 pounds and is fighting for her life after a difficult childhood with an abusive stepfather and drug-addicted mother.

Devastated by two miscarriages due to her weight, Schenee is desperate to start a family and stop relying on her husband, Freddie, to take care of her; she hopes weight loss surgery will be able to fix her fertility issues as well as her marriage.

Jennifer and her daughter, Marissa, are stuck in a co-dependent relationship that puts both of their lives in jeopardy, with a combined weight of more than 900 pounds; Jennifer strives to regain control before it's too late.

A 400-lb. woman learns that she's pregnant, but wonders if she'll be able to deliver the baby without complications; a woman who lost 400 pounds is in a relationship, but it could be in jeopardy when her weight-loss journey stalls.

Melissa has lost 500 pounds and saw her weight drop to 137 pounds, but now faces marital problems and life as a single mom, all while struggling with a gain of 150 pounds.

Back on Dr. Nowzaradan's program, James is suspected of cheating as he continues to gain weight and suffers a series of life-threatening illnesses; Cynthia continues to lose weight but seems satisfied to do so at her own pace.

Losing over 200 pounds, Doug is now an active part of his family's lives and inspires a healthier lifestyle for them all. However, Doug's eating disorder and trouble finding his own identity threaten to derail his progress.

Ashley hits an emotional wall and is desperate for skin surgery, but she is not losing any weight. After being evicted, Nicole is forced to move back to Ohio, which could impact her weight loss journey.

Brittani has lost over 400 lbs. in two years. As part of her next chapter, will she and Bill start to plan to expand their family? Lupe has struggled since surgery. Having left her husband, will she finally start to make permanent changes she needs?

Twins Kandi & Brandi have a combined weight totaling over 1100lbs. These inseparable twins fear losing each other to obesity, so they make a change together. But a life-threatening event during weight loss surgery recovery may separate them forever.

At 670 pounds Ashley must live in her parents' home with her husband. Desperate to save her life and her marriage, she decides it's time for a drastic change. Can weight loss surgery save her life?

Cynthia is a 610-lb single mother raising five kids. She's been focused on her children, but now realizes what her death would mean for them. As she battles her emotions & the pressures of life, she is forced to fight harder to save her own life.

Weighing over 600-lbs Kirsten is close to losing her mobility. While she's trying to get control of her obesity she's also in danger of losing her troubled son. She must regain her health in order to be the best mother she can to care for her son.

After overcoming a dependence on drugs & alcohol, sneaking food is 660-lb Doug's last remaining vice. Can this husband, and father of 3 overcome his addictive personality and take control of his eating habits in order to save his life & his marriage?

At 661 lbs, Erica regrets not keeping a promise to her mom. She hopes her siblings will help but they are reluctant based on past failures. Each meal threatens Erica's worst fear coming true; dying the same way she lives, alone & surrounded by food.

Diana, a once thin & active woman, is now a prisoner to her 620lb body. Desperate to break free of her food addiction, she trades the comfort of her home for a weight loss journey under the strict authority of her niece in order to regain her life.

Michael's massive 632lb body has left him completely dependent upon his family. If he doesn't learn to control his anger issues around food, lose weight, and address the root of his issues, then he will remain in jeopardy of losing everything.

Weighing over 700-lbs, Nicole is on the verge of leaving her two young children motherless. Trying to survive a family of addicts, she commits to Dr Nowzaradan's diet program, but crisis threatens to derail all her hopes for weight-loss.

Tanisha weighs around 600-lbs and she's desperate to survive for her kids and avoid her mother's tragic fate of dying at age 50 from super obesity. Now at 32, her future looks grim if she doesn't make a drastic change to save her life.

Weighing 791-lbs, James is bedridden, unable to stand, and can barely move his legs. He may only have a few months to live, so his family takes a high-risk journey to Houston, TX with the hope that bypass surgery can save his life.

Most of the extreme weight on Tracey's body resides in her shockingly misshapen legs. They're so massive with severe lymphedema, that gastric surgery is her only chance of survival. Will this mother & grandmother ever gain control of her overeating?

Steven Assanti weighs nearly 800-lbs and his brother/nemesis, Justin, is almost 600-lbs. Though the brothers can't stand each other, their father packs up the family to travel across the country to seek help, desperate to save both his sons' lives.

After a year on a weight loss program, Steven remains completely non-compliant, and Justin focuses on a new career instead of his diet. With neither brother close to being approved for life-saving surgery, time is quickly running out for them.

Dr. Nowzaradan is worried Lupe's emotional issues are blocking her weight loss journey since she's shed over 300 lbs. but still can't walk. Ashley is struck with sudden paralysis. Sarah and Roger prepare for skin removal surgery.

Brittani will have to endure two more painful surgeries to achieve her ideal body. Will Sean finally make a break from his mother's over-protective care? And Annette and Calisto prepare for skin removal surgery.

Surgery enables Teretha to finally return to family in Detroit, but it soon threatens to undo all the progress she's made. After his weight loss surgery, trucker Chad gets back on the road, but the job is putting any further weight loss in peril.

After losing 250 lbs, Nikki is on her way to skin surgery that will transform her body. But when a close friend dies from weight loss surgery, Nikki's progress goes off track. And Mary and Lora prepare for skin removal surgery.

A woman's weight-loss journey is in danger of going off track following the sudden loss of her son; a woman embarks on a plan to win approval for skin surgery.

Charity manages to lose over 400 pounds, but her daughter Charly becomes dangerously obese. Devastated by the death of her husband, Elroy, Milla must find a way to finally qualify for gastric bypass.

A man who weighed 800 pounds is engaged, but must continue to lose weight; a woman is on the verge of independence if she qualifies for skin surgery.

Surgery enabled Laura's independence but the complications nearly killed her and she's terrified about the next skin surgery. Chay revealed to her family she was transgender but living life as an overweight woman; can she stick to her weight loss journey?

Lifelong secret eater Nikki finds her life and career as a costume designer threatened by immobility as her weight climbs to 650-lbs. In urgent need of drastic weight loss, she undergoes gastric bypass and confronts the emotional causes for her eating.

Brittani married a man who loves large women but at 600 lbs she can barely contribute to their marriage. With dreams of a normal relationship, she gets weight loss surgery. Her entire world then changes leaving her with the challenge to forge a new life.

At 700 pounds, Chad's weight is dangerously out of control. After gastric bypass surgery, he quickly sheds pounds but faces a medical crisis when he does not follow the doctor's orders. In dire straights, Chad puts his weight loss journey on the line.

600-pound June copes with the tragic death of her son by eating. After gastric bypass surgery, she must confront the emotional issues driving her food compulsion. If she can stay on track, she can become the mother she desperately wants to be.

Dottie loves being a mom but, at over 600lbs, she's on the verge of leaving her 2 young children motherless. She agrees to a drastic new diet, but her child's life-threatening emergency & her own self-sabotage threaten to derail all hopes for weight-loss.

At 650 pounds, Gideon's weight prohibits him from working, making him completely dependent on his exhausted wife. Desperate for change, he uproots his family to restart his life with weight-loss surgery and hopes for a future of happily-ever-after.

Weighing over 700 pounds at 26-years-old, the clock is ticking on Ashley's life. Ashamed of her body, she mostly hides at home. After bypass surgery, Ashley confronts medical setbacks and struggles to get past the trauma that ignited her eating disorder.

At over 700lbs, Teretha's life is confined to a bed which is a far cry from her former job representing Detroit's healthy eating program. Her adoring family fears losing her and hopes a gastric bypass will provide the solution she needs to save her life.

At 650lbs, Randy's food addiction led to the loss of his marriage and visits with his daughter. To regain control of his life, he endures a rigorous pre-surgery diet, surrounded by fast-food temptations. Will he be approved for a weight-loss operation?

At 700lbs, Milla is bedridden and dependent on her husband and five kids. Terrified each day will be her last, they still can't resist her unending requests for junk food. Can Milla stop a lifetime of unhealthy eating to qualify for gastric surgery?

26-year-old Sean weighs over 700-lbs with a massive growth protruding from his side and skin so stretched it is tearing apart. His mother is forced to change both of their lifestyles before he can be approved for gastric bypass surgery.

At 600 pounds, Lupe spent the last 10 years in bed & totally dependent on her husband. A doctor in Texas is her only hope for change. A cross-country move to save her life, may end up backfiring. Did Lupe wait too long to begin her weight-loss journey?

At age 23, and over 600-lbs, Amber relies on her family, and boyfriend for even simple needs. Her fear of dying young is so overwhelming that she makes the decision to relocate 2,000 miles in hopes that weight loss surgery will give her life back.

Weighing in at over 600-lbs, 37 year old Susan is committed to drastic weight loss. But, when an unforeseen medical disorder strikes her mobility, finding the strength to make it through these obstacles is a matter of life and death.

At nearly 700 lbs., 51-year-old Pauline has an addiction to food that is killing her and taken over the life of her son, who is the primary caretaker. Can she overcome this addiction to change her lifestyle and save both their lives?

At just 24, Bettie Jo is eating her way towards 700-lbs. Housebound, she is reliant on her husband for even basic needs. Bettie Jo's future relies on her losing weight, and her husband losing his fear that if she loses weight, she will leave him.

At 42 years old, Angel is staring death in the face. She is struggling to make a positive change and be an active part of her partner and son's lives. With so much at stake, can she turn her life around?

Joe is only 30, and trapped in an 800-lb body. He lost his job and is mostly housebound. Can Joe find the strength to face his past and save his life?

Laura has used food to cope with her emotions for too long. Confined to a wheelchair, relying on an oxygen tank to breathe, she depends upon her husband and mother to survive. Love for her family must conquer her demons if she is to turn her life around.

Charity weighs nearly 800-lbs. Suffering from flesh-eating bacteria and butterfly shaped fat deposits; she is unable to function without help form her family. When unexpected bad news threatens her weight loss journey, she must decide if she can continue.

Chay is just 23, but to cope with the emotional turmoil of his childhood he has eaten his way to 600-lbs and it's threatening to kill him before turning 30. When Chay loses his emotional support, he must find new strength to take control of his life.

Marla is so heavy she cannot stand up. Bedridden, her true weight is unknown but estimated at 800-lbs. Marla must face the facts about her health and the toll it takes on her supportive family if she is to save her health.

Zsaylnn, once known as the "Fat Girl Rock Star" - married a man who loves large women. Now weighing over 600lbs, she urgently needs to lose weight to be the mother her daughter deserves. Can Zsalynn succeed with a husband who doesn’t support her goals?

Battling severe depression in the wake of a suicide attempt, 46-year old Olivia hasn't left her Chicago basement in two years. With one last chance at a new life, Olivia will travel to Houston with the hope of having a life-changing surgery.

Bedridden for four years, 46-year old Penny knows that her weight may kill her if drastic actions aren't taken. Penny moves from Maryland to Texas, to have gastric bypass - but her unwillingness to make real lifestyle changes could be her downfall.

Chuck weighs almost 700lbs and it has hindered every aspect of his life. He's had to downsize his business and his wife feels like a single-parent, who is ready to leave him. Can Chuck take control and reclaim the life that's slipping through his fingers?

Christina is a 22-year old married woman from South Haven, Mississippi, who hasn't left her house in two years due to her size. Her doting family has enabled her and she's eaten herself into a state that will soon kill her, if she can't make a change.

Paula has had a tough life, and at over 600lbs, has built a physical wall around herself to push people away. When she suddenly loses someone she loves, Paula can no longer ignore the threat of losing her own life - especially for her children's sake.

James comes from a long line of family obesity and at 706lbs, is determined not to die in the same hospital bed that his father and sister did. James vows to change his lifestyle in order to get gastric bypass, and even has hopes of dating again.

Tara is a mother of two from Lafayette, LA. Addicted to food, she is too ashamed of her size to be seen with her kids, confining herself indoors. Now seeking gastric bypass, Tara is committed to regaining her confidence and being a proud mother once more.

650-lb Melissa begins her seven-year weight loss journey.

650-lb Melissa struggles to get to her ideal weight.

Love motivates 660-lb Donald to begin his weight loss journey.

750-lb Henry begins his weight loss journey in the hopes of transforming himself in time to attend his high school reunion.

Ashley's career was derailed after she was let go due to her excessive weight. Will she be able to turn her life around and achieve her goal of owning a childcare facility?

Updates on Ashley, Donald, Henry and Melissa since their weight-loss journeys were chronicled. Included: new footage; and commentary from the show's producer.

Pivotal moments, whether tragic breaking points or ultimate triumphs, decide the success or failure of individuals struggling with extreme obesity. They must face the reality that weight-loss surgery alone is not the answer to reclaiming their lives.

Steven Assanti's dysfunction escalates, pushing his relationship with Dr. Nowzaradan to the brink, and a risky decision is made to save Steven's life, while brother Justin takes the leap to go to Houston to finally accept help.