Latonya Pottain appeared on My 600-lb Life’s season 2 with 531 pounds. People remembered her because of her difficult journey and heartbreaking background.
Her show concluded when Dr. Now said he could no longer help her because she wasn’t following his program.
Latonya’s life continued after the cameras stopped rolling. She continued to face the same problems she had experienced during filming. Her health remained poor, and she struggled with ongoing complications.
At age 40, Latonya passed away. Her death showed how serious these weight-related health issues can become.
What Happened To Latonya Pottain?
My 600-lb Life Latonya Pottain perished on May 17, 2025. The 40-year-old passed away from congestive heart failure, as per the doctors at the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office.
At the time of her death, she weighed around 705 pounds. This was near her peak weight of 740 pounds.
In February 2025, she solicited donations through GoFundMe. She needed help getting to doctors and paying for everyday things. The emergency team wouldn’t take her anywhere because moving someone her size was too risky.
Latonya wrote about how much worse everything got after being on TV. Mean comments from people online made her feel terrible and sick. Her body and mind both suffered. She wanted to talk to a therapist and move around again, but it was tough.
Latonya Pottain’s Journey on My 600-lb Life
Latonya started her My 600-lb Life journey on Season 11, Episode 2 with a weight of 531 pounds. She hoped to lose weight and marry her boyfriend, Daune.
During filming, she found it challenging to follow Dr. Now’s dietary plan, which led to her weight increasing. Only during a hospital stay for heart trouble did she lose pounds, since the medical staff controlled her meals completely.
During this difficult time, her boyfriend, Daune, her nephew, Adrian, and her caretaker, Virgie, were her most significant sources of support. She tried many times but failed to reach Dr. Now’s 60-pound weight loss goal while living at home.
Dr. Now eventually said he could no longer treat her unless she followed his program correctly, and her episode concluded without getting the surgery.
However, Latonya kept working on her wellness after the show concluded. She posted online in 2023 about getting psychiatric help and continuing with diet and exercise plans.
Health and Life After the Show
Latonya’s life got much harder after her TV episode ended. She shifted to Houston looking for a fresh start in 2023. However, an abusive relationship and her father’s cancer diagnosis forced her back to Louisiana.
Her physical condition got worse when she developed severe sciatica that caused intense pain. Doctors prescribed fentanyl, but her body couldn’t tolerate it, and she began to take therapy sessions for her mental health.
By June 2024, Latonya became completely bedridden. Her GoFundMe post explained how frightening it was to be immobile and unable to reach emergency services when needed.
She mentioned working hard on weight loss, but public criticism after her episode aired sent her into depression.
Online communities, particularly Reddit users, posted harsh comments about her behavior. They focused on hospital scenes and her eating habits, which were captured during filming.
Latonya continued using TikTok and Facebook to share updates about her life. She regularly reminded followers that negative comments from strangers wouldn’t determine her self-worth.
Personal Background and Support System
Latonya went through many sad events that changed how she handled food and feelings. Her mother passed away when Latonya was 12 years old, and her father abandoned the family to live with another woman.
She moved in with her older sister until she was 15, then her father co-signed for an apartment for her. Latonya also lost her older brother, and to cope with these losses, she began to eat for comfort, making her weight transformation more difficult.
Virgie’s death hurt Latonya deeply; she was the one who cooked meals and helped her bathe. In February 2023, Latonya wrote on Facebook about missing Virgie terribly.
Despite her challenges, Latonya worked to help others. She felt passionate about foster care and supported young mothers in her area. She supported them in finishing school and caring for their children. Her dream was to open a group home for girls.
Her experience shows the complex reasons behind extreme weight gain and the obstacles people encounter when trying to change.
Latonya’s death highlights that bariatric surgery remained her goal, but declining health and mobility problems prevented her from qualifying for the procedure.
