2 months ago
5
Pauline Potter was formerly the Guinness World Record holder for the World’s Heaviest Female, weighing more than 700 pounds. The California native appeared on My 600-Lb. Life in 2015, seeking help for her weight in the hopes of becoming less of a burden on her son, whom she heavily relied on for her well-being.
When Did Pauline Potter Appear on ‘My 600-Lb. Life’?
Pauline appeared during season 3 of My 600-Lb. Life in February 2015. At the time, she was 50 years old and tipped the scales 678 pounds.
“I am absolutely trapped in this body. I let myself get way out of control and I feel like I’m dying every day,” she explained during the episode. “I can’t even move without help. I can feed myself and I can wipe myself, but anything else after that I need help.”
Pauline relied on the help of her son, Dillon, and niece to care for her full-time. “He’s always taking care of Pauline since I can remember. I do feel bad for Dillon just because it seems like he hasn’t had much of a life,” her niece said in a private confessional. “Even with me, he’s very closed off and doesn’t really speak his mind very much. It’s not a healthy relationship because it’s not a mother/son relationship. It’s more like a client and a caregiver.”
Where Is ‘My 600-Lb. Life’ Star Pauline Potter Now?
After undergoing gastric surgery during the series, her weight loss seemed to stall and she revealed during the “Where Are They Now” episode in 2017 that she eventually developed an addiction to painkillers. “That fat girl in me is still there,” she said during the update. “The doctor fixed our stomachs, but he didn’t fix our minds. I have to keep fighting.”
Although she lost 148 pounds after her surgery, she substituted a food addiction for a pain pill addiction, which nearly killed her. She was rushed to the hospital after abusing the medication, where doctors found a septic infection in her bloodstream after an ulcer burst. Although the surgery was risky, it was successful and she went on to lose an additional 300 pounds to qualify for skin removal surgery. Pauline continued her wellness journey and shared a positive update with fans in January 2022.
“I haven’t posted on here in a long time, but I’m proud to say that now I’m down to 223 pounds,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “It feels so great to be able to not be reliant on someone else to do even the littlest things for me.”
But judging from her online social media presence, she has finally been able to keep the weight off. Her Facebook pictures show her with a much slimmer face and frame. Her friends have also been extremely supportive with their comments. One person wrote, “Absolutely beautiful!! Look how far you’ve come. Your hard work has paid off!” Another added, “Wow Pauline absolutely beautiful now you were beautiful before but it’s all out there now can’t hide that beauty no more. Love your show, such inspiration.”
English (US) ·