The Tragic Final Update: What Really Happened To James K From My 600-lb Life?

The story of James King from TLC's *My 600-lb Life* remains one of the most controversial and heartbreaking episodes in the show's history. The public's curiosity about his final status is rooted in the dramatic and often frustrating narrative of his journey, which saw his weight spiral upward despite Dr. Younan Nowzaradan’s strict program. For those searching for an update in late 2025, the reality is a tragic one: James King passed away on April 3, 2020, at the age of 49, leaving behind a legacy of a weight loss attempt marred by emotional trauma, family conflict, and ultimately, failure to overcome his extreme obesity.

James’s episodes—both his original Season 5 appearance and his subsequent *Where Are They Now?* follow-up—were defined by a shocking weight gain that led to a dramatic intervention from Dr. Now, who took the extraordinary step of calling Adult Protective Services (APS). This article provides a deep dive into James's full biography, the details of his struggle, the controversial role of his fiancée, Lisa Raisor, and the medical complications that ultimately led to his untimely death.

James Dale King: A Tragic Biography and Timeline

James Dale King's life was a profound struggle with food addiction and extreme obesity, a battle that began in childhood and culminated in his appearance on the reality television series. His full biography paints a picture of a man whose physical condition was inextricably linked to deep-seated emotional trauma.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

• Full Name: James Dale King
• Date of Birth: June 6, 1970
• Place of Birth: Elmhurst, Illinois
• Death Date: April 3, 2020
• Age at Death: 49 years old
• Place of Death: Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee
• Show Appearance: *My 600-lb Life*, Season 5, Episode 11 (2017)
• Initial Weight on Show: 791 lbs
• Peak Weight: 843 lbs (recorded during his time in Dr. Now’s program)
• Family: Survived by his fiancée, Lisa Raisor, and several children.
• Known Complications: Kidney failure, sepsis, and fatty cirrhosis of the liver.

James attributed his lifelong struggle with overeating to a traumatic childhood, specifically citing an alcoholic and absentee mother. This emotional void contributed to a dependency on food as a coping mechanism, setting the stage for a devastating battle with morbid obesity that would consume his adult life.

The Shocking Weight Spiral: From 791 Lbs to 843 Lbs

When James King first appeared on *My 600-lb Life* in 2017, he was completely bedbound, weighing in at 791 pounds. His goal was to lose the significant amount of weight required to qualify for life-saving bariatric surgery from the esteemed Dr. Younan Nowzaradan.

Dr. Now placed James on a strict, low-calorie diet, but his progress was minimal, often non-existent. Over the course of his year on the show, James’s weight trajectory was unlike many of his peers; instead of losing weight, he gained it. At one point, he reached a staggering 843 pounds, becoming one of the heaviest patients ever featured on the TLC series.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

The weight gain was a major point of contention and frustration for Dr. Now. The doctor grew increasingly suspicious that James was not adhering to the diet and, more critically, that he was being enabled by the person meant to be his primary caregiver: his fiancée, Lisa Raisor.

The constant excuses—ranging from vehicle breakdowns preventing him from getting to appointments to his inability to move—did little to quell Dr. Now’s suspicions. The physician recognized a pattern of sabotage, a phenomenon often seen in patients with extreme food addiction where a caregiver inadvertently or intentionally provides unhealthy food.

Dr. Nowzaradan's Extreme Intervention and APS Call

The climax of James King's time on the show involved a dramatic and unprecedented action by Dr. Nowzaradan. Convinced that Lisa Raisor was sneaking James high-calorie, high-fat food while he was hospitalized, Dr. Now took a decisive and controversial step: he called Adult Protective Services (APS) on Lisa.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

This move was a desperate measure to save James's life, as Dr. Now believed the enabling behavior was actively killing his patient. The intention was to legally intervene in James's care and ensure he was following the prescribed diet.

The APS investigation, however, did not lead to any formal action or change in James’s care arrangement. Following the failure of the APS intervention and James’s continued inability to follow the program, Dr. Now had no choice but to dismiss him from the weight loss program. James was sent home, his journey for bariatric surgery abruptly and tragically ended.

This episode highlights a critical entity in the world of extreme obesity: the complex dynamics of co-dependency and food addiction, where the people closest to the patient can become part of the problem, a concept frequently explored in the *My 600-lb Life* documentary series.

The Final Years and Legacy of James King

After being discharged from Dr. Now's program, James King’s health continued to deteriorate rapidly. His body was under immense strain from the extreme weight, which led to a cascade of severe medical issues. These complications are the grim reality of morbid obesity, often involving multiple organ systems.

In his final hospitalization, James was reportedly suffering from multiple critical conditions, including kidney failure, which is a common consequence of high blood pressure and diabetes associated with extreme weight. He also battled sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, and fatty cirrhosis of the liver, a severe form of liver disease.

James Dale King passed away on April 3, 2020. His death was officially announced via an obituary in his hometown of Paducah, Kentucky. He is one of the several cast members from *My 600-lb Life* who have tragically died young, underscoring the severe health risks and difficulty of the weight loss journey documented by TLC.

His story serves as a powerful, albeit painful, cautionary tale. It is a stark reminder that the battle against food addiction is not merely physical; it is deeply psychological and often involves a complex network of family and social support. The failure of James King to achieve weight loss was a multi-faceted tragedy, involving personal trauma, a lack of adherence to medical advice, and the controversial presence of an enabler in his life. The entities involved—Dr. Nowzaradan’s medical expertise, the reality of extreme obesity, and the role of caregivers—continue to be subjects of intense public discussion and analysis years after his passing.