What happened to Latonya Pottain? Preliminary cause of death revealed as tributes pour in for late My 600-lb life star

My 600-Lb Life star Latonya Pottain, who appeared in Season 11 of the hit TLC show, has died at the age of 40. She died on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

A preliminary report from the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office indicated that the likely cause of death was congestive heart failure. No autopsy was performed.

According to a recent GoFundMe campaign set up for her, she weighed 531 pounds when she first came on the show, and returned weighing 505 pounds. However, due to receiving severe backlash and hate following her episode’s debut she experienced major depressive symptoms and ended up gaining more weight going forward.

Latonya Pottain ultimately was given an ultimatum by Dr. Younan Nowzaradan that if she did not make big changes to her lifestyle, she would not be able to qualify for treatment.

Her health continued to deteriorate in the years after the show. Years later, in early 2024, Pottain disclosed that she was now totally bed bound by severe organ damage. She weighed 740 pounds and at one time even emergency medical services couldn't transport her, citing her weight as a safety reason (USA Today).

In a GoFundMe campaign for medical care launched earlier this year, she shared with donors the difficulties she had experienced, including a battle with mental health, sciatica pain and depression that had been amplified by online criticism following the broadcast of her episode.

"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." She wrote in her campaign bio.

More about Latonya Pottain's struggles as fan tributes pour in

People on social media were devastated by the loss and expressed condolences to Latonya Pottain's family and friends. One Instagram user wrote:

This is so sad. That poor baby was trying very hard.

Latonya Pottain's death also shed light on the risk factors of being morbidly obese. Therefore, while some people expressed their sadness they also talked about the importance of diet and eating healthy.

Latonya Pottain had also faced many personal problems accompanied by her health problems. In 2023 she supposedly relocated to Houston in search of a fresh start, but ended up in an abusive relationship and her father was diagnosed with cancer, leading her to go back to Louisiana.

"In 2023, I moved to Houston, hoping for a fresh start, but instead, I found myself in an abusive relationship... Unable to take the emotional and physical toll, I returned home to Louisiana." She wrote in her Go Fund Me campaign.

Her backstory is also filled with early loss and resilience. The youngest of three children, she lost her mother at the age of 12 and was all on her own by the age of 15 (Entertainment Weekly).

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Outside of her health journey, Pottain hoped to open a home for young foster girls. She talked often about her passion for helping others, especially those who were going through things similar to what she experienced.

"All my life I have taken care of young girls and helped support them. There's so many young girls that have lost both of their parents, going through what I went through as a teenager and not having anywhere to go." Latonya Pottain told Shreveport Times.

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