My 600-Lb Life Stars Who Sadly Died

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Robert Buchel was sadly the first of three participants featured on Season 6 of "My 600-lb Life" to die. Buchel grew up around fattening food, as his family owned a fried chicken restaurant, but later used food to cope with trauma beginning at age 9, when he was sexually assaulted by a neighbor. However, Buchel's eating habits were at their worst after his brother died, because he felt guilty for being alive.

Buchel was 842 pounds when he began his weight loss journey with Dr. Now. He was determined to lose weight so that he could meet his fiancée, Kathryn, halfway down the aisle at their wedding. Buchel's body was in such bad shape that he couldn't undergo weight loss surgery right away, but he did have lymphedema removal surgery. While he eventually lost 340 pounds, per Starcasm, Buchel — who also had a history of abusing pain medication — got depressed post-surgery and started refusing to exercise and comply with the program. He sadly died of a heart attack at age 41 in November 2017.

"Robert continued to struggle to stay active as his body deteriorated further. Unfortunately, he couldn't overcome how fast his body was failing and he suffered a heart attack," TLC reported during his episode. "He was rushed to the hospital, but there was nothing they could do. He did not survive." Dr. Nowzaradan expressed condolences to Buchel's mother and fiancée.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

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