My 600-lb Life season 7 featured Mercedes Cephas and her TLC weight loss journey, but she disappeared from the spotlight after her time on the show. The reality TV series follows Dr. Younan Nowzaradan (Dr. Now) as he tries to get his morbidly obese patients to lose weight for their health. Sometimes, things go according to plan, and the patients see turnarounds on camera and behind the scenes on My 600-lb Life. However, other cast members, such as Mercedes, struggle to make progress.
Mercedes was a 37-year-old mother of two from Ohio. When she was on the show, she weighed 773 pounds and suffered from severe lymphedema. She had to rely on help from her extended family and kids since she needed to stay in bed due to her weight. On My 600-lb Life, Mercedes revealed her food addiction resulted from childhood trauma from allegedly being sexually assaulted by her father. When she met Dr. Now, he informed her that her obesity was risking her internal organs.
Mercedes Didn't Meet Requirements On My 600-Lb Life
Mercedes could not complete the requirements that would allow her to qualify for bariatric surgery. She was often seen lying to Dr. Now or complaining about the strict regimen she had to follow to lose weight for the surgery. She lost 81 pounds, which was insufficient to get approved for surgery. According to Republic World, Mercedes' Facebook profile indicates she is back in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her profile also shows that she's a stay-at-home mom. While Mercedes is not very active on social media after My 600-lb Life, it doesn't seem like she has lost more weight.
Mercedes Started A GoFundMe After My 600-Lb Life
After My 600-lb Life, Mercedes started a GoFundMe campaign that has since shut down and was listed under the "medical" category. She wanted to raise money to get gastric bypass surgery on her own. She fell short of her $10,000 goal after receiving only $175. In January 2021, a rumor spread online that Mercedes had passed away, but there was no proof that she did. Right now, what she's up to is a bit of a mystery. She does have Facebook and Instagram profiles, but she's pretty quiet on those accounts. Her last Facebook post was in July 2020, when she updated her profile picture.
The journey after My 600-lb Life is just as important as the cast members' steps in the reality series. Some cast members have sadly passed away due to their weight issues. As a result, it's impossible to say if she has been following Dr. Now's advice or still finds excuses to avoid eating a healthier diet. In the meantime, fans can only hope Mercedes got the help she needed to get well.
Source: Republic World