What Happened To James King From My 600-Lb Life After The Show?

In 2017, My 600-lb Life season 5 viewers met James King, who was one of the heaviest cast members to ever appear on the series, and it’s time to discuss what happened to him after his episodes aired. He initially weighed 791 pounds and had a lot of trouble slimming down while he was on the show. Unfortunately, James was dismissed from the series after failing to follow weight loss program rules. After that, he continued to face many issues in his life.

When he first began his weight-loss journey on My 600-lb Life, James was bedridden. With the help of My 600-lb Life‘s Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, he hoped to regain control of his eating habits. He depended on his wife, Lisa Raisor King, and his children. His daughter dropped out of school to look after her father. Onscreen, James had trouble identifying the source of his weight gain. When Dr. Now called Adult Protective Services on James’ wife, as he believed that she was sneaking food to James in the hospital, James’ stint on the weight loss show came to an end.

My 600-Lb Life’s James Has Sadly Passed Away

James King’s Life Ended Too Soon

On April 3, 2020, James King passed away at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, at 49 years old. Fans were heartbroken that he was gone, and many other My 600-lb Life stars have also died at young ages. A source revealed to The Sun that James went into septic shock and experienced kidney failure. The insider stated, “He [James] died of kidney failure. He has been suffering, but now he is no longer in pain.”

The source also shared that James had lost over 300 pounds since viewers last saw him on TV. Before his tragic passing, he was reportedly in a much better place in his life. The insider remarked:

“He weighed about 500 pounds when he passed away. He would have been proud of himself.”

My 600-Lb Life’s James King Had A Difficult Childhood

James’ Mother Was Not In The Picture

Unfortunately, many of the My 600-lb Life patients had challenging upbringings. James was no exception. Oftentimes, their tumultuous home environments are the catalysts for their food addictions. Fans may often see patients exploring their childhoods as the first steps in their healing processes. James shared some upsetting insights into his life at an early age.

The Kentucky native was raised by his father – many fans of the show praised him as he was dedicated to his son’s health. James’ dad remortgaged his home to come up with the money to send James to Dr. Now. The father made big financial sacrifices because he loved his son. James’ dad must have been so heartbroken when his child passed away. He may have been left with serious money problems too.

As loving and compassionate as James’ father was, his relationship with his mother was unhealthy, to say the least. James ’mother was an addict as well, abusing alcohol as a means of escape. On the show, James revealed that he had only met his mother three times as a child. Every time he had the opportunity to see her, she was drunk. For this reason, his father remained the only parental figure in his life. He tried to make ends meet, and emotionally supported James and his brother.

When James finally reconnected with his mother later in life, he commented that the reunion was fulfilling. He expressed that his mother seemed to fill a “hole” missing in his life. Only three months after rekindling their relationship, his mother passed away.

To make matters worse, as his family attended her funeral, they received a call informing them that their family home had burned down. James was inconsolable. He felt that he lost everything important to him in one day. James shared that his depression was debilitating – he was finding it hard to go to school. Then, the binge-eating started.

My 600-Lb Life’s James Struggled With Health Issues

James King Had Trouble With His Legs

Dr. Nowzaradan, who is a highly experienced bariatric surgeon who has helped hundreds of patients, believed Lisa was enabling the My 600-lb Life star and his food addiction, and derailing his weight loss. Shortly after this incident, the respected bariatric surgeon had no choice but to dismiss James from the program and the show. After the series, James continued to live with health issues. In late 2017, James was in the ICU due to sepsis, cirrhosis, and kidney failure.

In 2018, James was featured in
My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?
, a special episode for the series. The special revealed that James had gained weight since filming the show, reaching 840 pounds.

James King Wasn’t A Fan Favorite

Dr. Now Thought James Was Difficult (Fans Agree)

It’s unkind to speak ill of the dead, but on Reddit, there’s a “megathread’ about James’ passing, and most fans seem to feel that he was one of Dr. Now’s most unruly and abrasive patients. They called out James and attacked his wife too. In the thread, which was started by Lexifer31, the My 600-lb Life stars were criticized, although there were a handful of sympathetic comments. Even those who felt compassion for James didn’t really like him much. One said:

No matter if I like or dislike the person, I always always hope they are successful losing the weight because no one should go through what they go through.

RIP James, life wasn’t kind to you :(

Fans of the series had issues with James because he didn’t try to help himself. He would ask his wife to give him large portions of unhealthy foods. They think that she complied because she feared him. However, they had a lot of respect for James’ father, who went out of his way to help his son.

On the show, Dr. Now was very concerned about James. In fact, he said onscreen that he expected to receive a phone call about James one day, where he’d be told that the obese reality star had passed away. Sadly, Dr. Now’s instincts were correct. It’s important to remember that James, who was known for his love of egg rolls and his problems with his legs, was more than a non-compliant My 600-lb Life patient. He was a human being.

James King Had Interests & Passions

James King Will Be Missed

James’ obituary was written by someone who loved him, so its tone is much different than the Reddit thread’s. As per Milnerandorr.com, James died at Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville, Tennessee. His date of birth was June 2, 1970. According to the obituary, James loved watching sports – he was into baseball, wrestling and hockey. He supported the Chicago Cubs.

Aside from sports, James was fond of CB Radio. He used it to connect with pals all over America. They called him “Cracker Jack.” He also liked to fish. So often, when people watch reality TV shows, they judge the people on their screens. They may see them at their worst. However, the person who wrote about James after he passed away also saw him at his best. They remember the good times. The obituary author, and James’ other relatives, are the ones who suffer because he’s gone.

James has problems, and unfortunately, his overeating was the catalyst for his death. That is very sad. Born under the Sun sign, Gemini, James may have had trouble picking a path and sticking to it.

How James King’s Star Sign May Have Affected His Personality

James King’s Astrological Sign Is Mutable

Gemini is a Mutable sign, which means that change is possible – mutable signs are adaptable. However, Geminis, symbolized by the Twins, have dual natures. They twist and turn, showing different sides of themselves. They are hard to pin down. It’s like there’s a little angel on every Gemini’s shoulder and a little devil on the other side. A Gemini can be good or bad and can change from good to bad in an instant, like turning on a dime.

Geminis need a lot of mental stimulation to be happy, so James’ CB Radio habit probably made him very happy. Good banter is very important to this sign. Sports may also have sparked his imagination and kept him from getting bored.

This sign is typically very bright – mentally agile Geminis are brainy, to be sure, but they can be fickle and restless. James may have turned to food when other aspects of his life weren’t exciting enough. Geminis are known for being two-faced, but it’s hard to say if James acted that way. Certainly, fans of the show found him manipulative.

James King’s Struggle With Addiction Doesn’t Define His Character

James Was Much More Than An Addict

James’ life wasn’t easy, and often, he made his own troubles. However, obviously, when this type of weight gain is in the mix, there are mental health issues. So, judging James for what he ate (and how much) is basically judging a mentally ill person for being mentally ill.

There’s a lot of talk in society about destigmatizing mental illness, but when a mentally ill person is shown on television, there is still plenty of negative chatter. Only God can judge, but that being said, James was not a popular My 600-lb Life star. His choices offended viewers. However, the fact that his father would have done anything for him showed that there was more to James than meets the eye.

Sources: The Sun, Lexifer31/Reddit, Milnerandorr.com