“My 600-lb Life’ star Latonya Pottain dies at 40

Latonya Pottain, known for appearing on season 11 of My 600-Lb. Life, has passed away.

Passing details

Pottain died on Saturday at CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport, La., TMZ reports.

She was 40.

Pottain passed away just hours after spending time with her family over the weekend.

She was hospitalized after having difficulty breathing and later suffered cardiac arrest, her brother told the outlet.

According to the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office, no autopsy was performed but a preliminary investigation revealed that she paased from congestive heart failure.

Latonya Pottain’s Funeral

Pottain’s loved ones are finalizing funeral arrangements.

“Please join us in prayer for this dear family as they complete final care arrangements for their deceased loved one,” her online obituary read, which also included links to send flowers and to donate to her memorial.

Weight struggles

Pottain’s untimely death comes after she created a GoFundMe in February for support, stating that she was going through “the most challenging time of my life.”

“I currently weigh about 705 pounds and have been bedridden since June 2024 due to severe health issues,” she wrote at the time.

“In 2022, I was featured on My 600-lb Life, where I started at 531 pounds and worked hard to get down to 505 pounds. However, after the show aired, I experienced overwhelming backlash, which sent me into a deep depression. My mental health suffered, and I became fearful of undergoing weight loss surgery”.

Pottain also shared that she suffered both physically and emotionally and experienced severe sciatica, which is intense pain in the lower back and legs caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve.

“Now, I am completely bedridden and unable to get to the hospital because EMTs say transporting me would be a fire hazard due to my weight,” she said on the fundraising page, asking for financial assistance to help with medical transportation to receive treatment and rehabilitation. “This has been an incredibly difficult journey, and I truly want to fight for my health and my life.”

Latonya Pottain on My 600-Lb Life

Pottain’s weight loss journey was partly chronicled on TLC’s My 600-Lb. Life, as she struggled to commit to a weight-loss program.

On the show, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan — a Houston-based bariatric surgeon — expressed his concern for her heart health and warned that her life depended on her making significant lifestyle changes.