Summary

• Kirsten Perez's appearance on My 600-Lb Life showcased her struggle with obesity. Her emotional eating problem was sparked by childhood trauma.
• With the help of Dr. Now and therapy, Kirsten made real progress. She got bariatric surgery, which led to significant weight loss. As she slimmed down, her health improved.
• After relocating to Washington with her son, Kirsten continued her weight-loss journey. She showed that the My 600-Lb Life program can really work.

This article references a sexual assault.

Kirsten Perez appeared on the infamous Dr. Now. Like a lot of other cast from the show, Kirsten lived with the effects of trauma. She revealed that she was gang-raped when she was a teenager, overeating as a coping mechanism.

She also had addiction issues beyond food, which she opened up about on the show.

Due to Kirsten's avoidance of therapy, Dr. Now gave her an ultimatum - if she refused therapy, he would withdraw his offer to help her. Kirsten agreed to Dr. Now's request and obtained bariatric surgery. She even managed to surprise her dad by doing so well. By the end of her episode, with assistance from her therapist, she'd started trying to see things in a more positive light. Was Kirsten able to maintain her weight-loss journey after My 600-Lb Life? It seems like she's doing well.

People who are very overweight should talk to physicians. Doctors can help them to create realistic and healthy weight-loss plans.

Kirsten's Journey On My 600-Lb Life Was Turbulent

Her Impaired Mobility Made Her Angry

Kirsten suffered so much due to her high weight. In the clip above, she was trapped in a body that was betraying her. Unable to move with ease, her anger and frustration drove her to tears. It's wrenching to watch an addict (Kirsten's hooked on food) self-destruct. Addiction is so powerful - it ruins (and often ends) lives. In the video, Kirsten had trouble getting out of a chair and walking around. She said:

“Getting out to the car should be two seconds, but it takes me like, ten minutes.”

Also, Kirsten couldn't enjoy a ride in a car because of her size. She managed to get into the enger seat, but the door wouldn't close. These experiences underscore how humiliating and degrading super-morbid obesity can be. Her frustration stemmed from a feeling of powerlessness. At that point, her addiction was stronger than she was. However, in time, she found the strength to lose over 100 pounds. When she did, she began to take control of her life. That weight loss was achieved after her gastric by procedure.

Kirsten had other challenges. Since she was so large, it was hard for her to bathe regularly. She depended on others for help with a lot of personal care tasks - her mother was her primary helper. Some of the psychological turmoil that led to obesity was the result of "daddy issues." In her family, she felt like her father preferred her brother.

Most people have these issues on some scale - they have their mommy or daddy issues - they have their body issues etc. However, people who end up at extremely high weights may also be dealing with mental illness. Their depression (or whatever mental health problem they have) makes it harder for them to get over things and focus on their own well-being. Mental illness is really a given in such situations, and many My 600-Lb Life stars have talked about their depression.

Kirsten Perez Gets Trashed At Reddit

My 600-Lb Life Fans Don't Appreciate Her

Despite this sad fact, on Reddit, there is little pity. In fact, although Kirsten sobbed onscreen, a thread started by DonutsJunction was harsh. Kirsten was torn apart. The OP said:

I'm in shock with how disgusted I am by her. So she hates her family so much that she gets knocked up twice and then abandons her children with said family so she can continue living a disgusting hedonistic life and then has the nerve to complain her son has problems and is nasty to her??? You gave your children a broken mess of a home and then you try to burden your teen son with your care? YOU'RE the adult here! And throughout the episode she yells at him unnecessarily. She whines and complains and has excuses for her excuses. Her family has the patience of saints to put up with her absolute wretchedness!

Kirsten has said shocking things and behaved badly. So, she does deserve some of the shade. However, mental illness may be the reason why. She should have stopped to think before she described a hospital as a:

"fat person concentration camp"

It's not good to throw around jokey concentration camp references. 12 million Jewish people died in WWII, and many of them perished in Nazi concentration camps. While she was trying to say that the situation was unbearable, she could have used different words. Referencing a sick genocide was offensive.

Kirsten Moved Back To Washington After My 600-Lb LIfe

She Kept Working On Her Fitness

In 2016, Kirsten moved to Houston to be closer to Dr. Now and kick-start her My 600-lb Life weight-loss journey. However, after Kristen obtained bariatric surgery, she and her son relocated to Washington. He was uncomfortable in Houston, and she had to send him back to Washington due to behavioral issues. While living there, she continued her weight-loss journey.

Kirsten Made An Inspiring Recovery After My 600-Lb Life

Kirsten Never Gives Up

Kirsten has maintained a very quiet life, but she's undoubtedly healthier. Before she embarked on her weight-loss journey, she was living with addiction, and her family weren't quite sure how to help her. Her diet and addiction were out of control. Luckily, she managed to pull herself up with help from Dr. Now and her therapist, Lola Clay. Whether she still sees them is unknown, but they undoubtedly helped her feel better after a very traumatic time. It can be challenging to commit to therapy, and Kirsten's bravery should be commended.

Kirsten may have lost up to 200 pounds. She lost at least a hundred pounds. While that's a lot of weight, some reality stars have lost even more. For example, 1000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton lost 440 pounds. She's had one of the most dramatic transformations in reality TV history.

Nonetheless, Kirsten lost a lot of weight. Maybe she wanted to lose more, but she did slim down. When a person who's obese changes their body by getting thinner, they may minimize health risks.

There may be less visceral fat around organs - this kind of fat can trigger metabolic syndromes, such as diabetes.

Dr. Now Did Help Kirsten Perez

He Has Helped Many Patients

Kirsten realized that being so overweight was negatively impacting her quality of life, and she decided to seek help. She overcame significant obstacles to get the results she wanted. In My 600-Lb Life season 12, there were more inspirational weight-loss journeys. While Kirsten is no longer in the spotlight, she seems to have benefited from the program and surgery showcased on My 600-Lb Life.

Sources: DonutsJunction/Reddit