Charity Pierce entered “My 600-lb Life” in one of the most severe cases the show has documented. At her heaviest, she weighed as much as 778–800 pounds.She was unable to perform even basic daily tasks: she needed help to get out of bed, use the bathroom, move around, and even used a portable toilet because a regular one couldn’t accommodate her — a stark indicator of how her body had become a barrier to life itself. On top of the physical challenges, she openly expressed deep despair, saying she “would rather die than live this way.” The roots of her struggle traced back to early trauma: reportedly, childhood abuse and an alcoholic father had contributed to her turning to food for comfort — a coping mechanism that eventually spiraled out of control.

Her extraordinary size had also taken a heavy emotional toll. She felt trapped, both physically and psychologically, unable to live an independent life — her identity constrained by a body that denied mobility, dignity, and freedom. In that context, the decision to seek help through bariatric surgery and undergo a dramatic lifestyle change was not just about losing weight, but reclaiming her life.

Given the severity of her condition — non-healing sores, infections, immobility — her doctors determined she was at risk of dying if nothing was done. Under the care of Dr. Younan Nowzaradan (“Dr. Now”), Charity was admitted to the hospital and approved for weight-loss surgery. Before surgery, she had to demonstrate weight loss to reduce operative risks — a grueling process involving drastic lifestyle changes.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Charity embraced the challenge. Her first weight-loss milestone: by the end of her original show episode, she had shed roughly 282 pounds, bringing her weight down to around 496.6 pounds. The initial results offered hope — but often, the hardest work was only beginning. She knew surgery alone would not fix everything; the transformation demanded sustained commitment, both physically and emotionally.

Following her massive weight loss, Charity faced further challenges: the excess skin left behind posed serious health and mobility issues. In a follow-up episode of “Where Are They Now?”, multiple skin surgeries were required. Among the procedures: a removal of 38 pounds of hanging tissue from her abdomen, and — at another point — a 57-pound mass of fluid and fat from her leg. These surgeries were not cosmetic — they were medically necessary to improve her mobility and prevent repeated infections. But such procedures also came with long hospital stays, risk of complications, and emotional strain. Her weight loss journey was not linear. After her mother passed away (her attempt to reconnect with family had been a motivator for the surgery), Charity reportedly relapsed — using food (and other harmful coping mechanisms) to deal with grief. At one point she struggled with alcohol and dependency, compromising her recovery and mental health.

Despite those setbacks, Charity showed resilience: she re-engaged with her treatment, reaffirmed her commitment to weight loss, and by the later follow-up episodes had reportedly gotten under 300 pounds.

Her daughter (Charly Pierce) — who also faced weight issues — joined her in therapy, attempting to shift their relationship from caretaker/patient to mother/daughter. Their bond was tested, but this step was important both for emotional healing and for mutual support.

As if the medical and emotional challenges weren’t enough, Charity confronted further life-threatening crises. In 2019, during one of her skin-removal surgeries, she reportedly overdosed on painkillers she had smuggled into the hospital — a harrowing incident that nearly cost her life and severely damaged the trust between her and her medical

Then, in late 2019, Charity announced a kidney cancer diagnosis. According to her own posts at the time, the cancer was confined to the kidney — which was surgically removed on March 2, 2020, in a bid to prevent spread.  The news was devastating especially because her mother had died of brain cancer — the emotional ramifications were deep.

E.ven in the face of these blows — addiction, betrayal, loss, cancer — Charity continued to fight. She publicly committed to sobriety, returned to supportive programs, and reaffirmed her determination to heal not just physically but mentally

According to various updates (as of the early 2020s), Charity Pierce has made significant strides: her social-media bio reportedly claimed a total weight loss of over 540 pounds.She has presented herself to the public as someone striving to maintain health, rebuild family relationships, and reclaim her life with dignity.

Her daughter Charly, too, has taken steps — in some accounts, losing substantial weight and even becoming a mother (Charity’s granddaughter). The family’s story — fraught with pain, betrayal, relapse, cancer, but also extreme resilience — serves as a testament to the complexity of recovery and transformation.

That said, the publicly available updates on Charity’s health since 2020 are sparse. She seems to have stepped back from social media in recent years, and there have been few credible, recent reports giving a full picture of her health status or daily life.  Her journey reflects both triumph and ongoing struggle — showing that transformation is rarely a clean, linear process, especially when intertwined with trauma, loss, and serious health crises.

Charity Pierce’s journey stands out not just because of the dramatic weight loss — but because of the depth and honesty of her struggle. Her life before the show demonstrates how obesity can be intertwined with trauma, addiction, and emotional pain. Her commitment to surgery and subsequent lifestyle change shows immense bravery. Her continued challenges — with relapse, cancer, emotional trauma — highlight how even monumental changes don’t erase the need for long-term support, healing, and compassion.

Her story is a reminder that transformation is not only about numbers on a scale. It is about emotional work, facing demons, picking oneself up time and again, and accepting that setbacks can happen. It is also about the importance of support — from family, from professionals, and from one’s own inner resolve.

For many viewers and individuals facing similar struggles, Charity’s journey remains a powerful example: that even when life seems insurmountable, hope, resilience, and persistent effort can lead to profound change. At the same time, it illustrates the complexity and fragility of recovery — and how raw courage is required not just to begin a transformation, but to strive to sustain it.