Pauline Potter weighed the same as a fully developed female polar bear when she won the Guinness World Record for Heaviest Woman in 2012.
After being labeled the “world’s fattest woman,” the 61-year-old star of TLC’s My 600-lb Life underwent a startling change, leaving admirers stunned by her new look.Pauline Potter made headlines in 2011 when she set the Guinness World Record for the world’s heaviest woman, weighing more than 700 pounds (320 kilograms).
At the time, she and her ex-husband Alex regarded the title with high respect.
“Alex urged me to eat everything I wanted. “He would make huge meals of turkey and roast potatoes and pile them on my plate,” Potter recalled of the man she married on Valentine’s Day 2003, less than a year after meeting him online. “Because he loved my size, I set a goal to reach [700 pounds] to make sure I was even bigger for him.”
Potter told the Mirror that Alex liked larger women and enjoyed filling them: “He made spaghetti and French bread for me.” He’d bring home pudding and serve it to
me. It was quite intimate. It was a very lovely gesture.” However, Dr. Chris Steele, a former resident doctor for ITV’s This Morning, believes that rallying around
fat is everything but kind.
“At [700 pounds], Pauline weighed more than her age , 47, and she is on the verge of death. Anyone who is that overweight has significant health risks.”
Fattest lady
When Potter realized that Guinness had called her “the world’s fattest woman,” she stated she was “surprised.” Furthermore, her allegedly loving spouse abandoned
the relationship, leaving her in charge of her 17-year-old son Dillon. Potter, who could “only feed” and “wipe” herself, relied on Dillon for nearly everything, including movement and housekeeping.
“I have a walk-in bathtub, and I sit on a seat with a flexible shower head on a lead. There is a lot of labor involved.” With so many rolls of flesh, you can get infections in the folds,” she told the Mirror. “To prevent this, I wash every day, dry myself thoroughly, and then rub cornstarch into the folds around my stomach and behind my knees.”
She continues, “My son has to help me when there are areas I can’t reach.” Potter also required her mobility scooter to travel around because she outgrew her automobile, and Dillon regularly had to assist her with shopping.
“I occasionally receive negative remarks. I try to rise above it, but I’m sad for Dillon. I know he’s humiliated, and I’m worried about what his buddies think.
Progress and setbacks.
Potter’s health issues, along with a desire to restore her independence, drove her to seek aid. Her turning point occurred in 2014, when she featured on TLC’s My 600-lb Life. On the reality program, she worked with famous bariatric surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan—fondly known as “Dr.” Now”—who helped her through the difficult weight reduction procedure.
When Potter initially appeared on the show, she weighed 643 pounds. Despite initial difficulties, such as difficulty adhering to a strict 1,200-calorie diet, Potter’s dedication eventually paid off.
The woman ultimately made headway in her weight reduction struggle, losing 44 pounds and receiving Dr. Now’s clearance for gastric bypass surgery.
However, the journey following her weight loss treatment was far from straightforward. Instead of quickly reducing weight, Pauline fought, made excuses, and even gained weight. “Her attitude is her biggest problem right now,” Dr. Now remarked of the obstinate woman, who frequently refused to get out of bed and continued to consume junk food.
Extreme Weight Loss
But Potter eventually recovered control of her health, and years later, she shed 500 pounds and had skin removal surgery, bringing her to her lowest weight. In January 2022, Potter made her first Instagram post in “a long time.”
“I’m proud to say that now I’m down to 223 pounds; it feels so great to not have to rely on others to do even the simplest things for me,” she says in the post, which includes photos of her gorgeous slimmed-down figure.
Fans have been inspired by her weight reduction experience and have continued to support her at each milestone.
“What an amazing transformation and inspiration you are; you look amazing!!” One fan agrees, while another says, “Well done, you look so beautiful.” A third added, “You look fantastic! What a tremendous achievement!”
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