'My 600-lb Life' Star Charity Pierce Dies After Losing 282 Pounds in Remarkable Transformation

Her transformation was seen by millions. Her journey was far from easy. Now, "My 600-lb Life" star is gone — leaving behind a legacy of resilience.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, a heartbreaking chapter closed for fans of TLC's "My 600-lb Life" — Charity Pierce. The star passed away at 50, after a long and grueling battle with severe health issues.

Known for her emotional journey on the hit reality show, Charity's final moments were spent in hospice care, where she was comforted by family as her condition rapidly deteriorated. According to loved ones, she passed away on Tuesday, around 1:20 a.m., her lifeless body finally released from the pain she had endured for years.

A source close to the family told TMZ that fluid buildup in her lungs may have played a role in her death, along with ongoing struggles with lymphedema, a chronic and debilitating condition.

Daughter Speaks Out

Charity's daughter, Charly Jo, confirmed the tragic news in a gut-wrenching Facebook post, revealing she had been by her mother's side during her final breath.

Charly initially hadn't planned to post about her mother's passing, but said the overwhelming number of messages and calls led her to share the heartbreaking news.

She said her mother was finally at peace and believed she had been reunited with loved ones who had died before her. Charly also shared that she was deeply grateful to have been by her side in those final moments.

A Journey Millions Watched Unfold on National Television

Charity first rose to national attention during Season three of TLC's "My 600-lb Life," where viewers were drawn into her deeply emotional struggle with extreme obesity, dangerous medical complications, and long-standing trauma.

At her heaviest, Charity weighed nearly 800 pounds, a staggering figure that left her unable to live independently and forced her to seek professional help as her body began to fail her.

Her story became one of the most unforgettable in the series, filled with dramatic highs and crushing lows — major weight loss milestones, skin removal surgeries, and repeated setbacks that seemed to haunt her path forward. Some of those setbacks were tied to painful infections.

Others were linked to personal turmoil, emotional stress, and the overwhelming weight of her circumstances. Charity later returned in "My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?" as cameras continued to document her ongoing health challenges and her difficult efforts to rebuild strained family relationships, including with her daughter, Charly.

The Childhood Horror That Sparked a Lifetime of Pain

Behind Charity's battle with obesity was a past marked by devastating trauma, one that shaped her relationship with food from an early age. She grew up in an abusive household where fear ruled every moment. Her father, an alcoholic, often turned violent.

"I remember running when it was time for him to get off from work," she once recalled. "He would throw the dishes out of the cupboard and he would punch us in the back of our head." Living under constant terror, Charity admitted, "It felt like my whole life was in panic all the time."

Food became her refuge — the one place where she could escape, even briefly, from the chaos. When her father would pass out, she finally felt safe enough to sneak into the kitchen, finding comfort in eating alone.

"I loved those times," she said. "I would eat like three or four snack cakes." She also admitted she never just ate one donut — it was always four or five.

Isolation, Shame, and the Crushing Weight of Despair

Over time, that pattern of emotional eating spiraled into something far larger, and as Charity's weight increased, so did her isolation. She struggled with basic daily tasks and even personal hygiene. She once revealed that her size made it impossible to use the toilet safely, forcing her to rely on a makeshift restroom setup.

Bathing became equally difficult, and she had to be sponge-bathed because she could not sit in a tub. The emotional toll was just as suffocating. "I’m embarrassed of my body. I don't want anybody to see it," she admitted. "I look completely different from anybody else."

Even as she fought to survive, Charity faced moments of unbearable hopelessness. "I don't wanna be like this," she once said. "I would rather die than live this way."

A New Battle: Cancer Diagnosis Devastates the Reality Star

In the years after her television appearances, Charity continued to share updates with fans about her fragile health. In 2020, she posted a shocking message on Facebook revealing she had been diagnosed with kidney cancer, learning about the illness around Christmas. "It devastated me," she wrote, noting that her mother had died from brain cancer.

The diagnosis unleashed waves of anxiety and panic attacks, reopening old wounds of fear and loss. After extensive testing, doctors determined the cancer was contained in her kidney, and Charity underwent surgery on March 2, when the kidney was removed. She later said she was recovering at home, holding onto hope for better days ahead.

A Family's Struggles and Small Moments of Hope

Charity's family health journey also included changes for her daughter. In 2019, Charity proudly shared a post highlighting Charly's weight loss transformation. She captioned it, "My daughter’s amazing journey," alongside before-and-after photos.

Charity's own weight loss remained central to her story. She began her journey at 778 pounds, eventually losing 282 pounds, bringing her weight down to 496. She also underwent surgery to remove excess fat and skin, and her doctor expressed hope that her progress would accelerate afterward.

Charity described the change as a physical relief, making movement feel easier and giving her a sense of freedom in her body. But the months that followed were not easy. About four and a half months later, Charity admitted she was struggling emotionally, devastated after being left in Houston and unsure of what to do next.

With her motivation fading, she returned to food and alcohol, using them as coping mechanisms against loneliness and heartbreak. Her relationship with Charly remained one of the most important — and complicated — parts of her recovery.

Charly spoke openly about wanting to stay close while avoiding unhealthy patterns. "I don't plan on my mother and I being completely apart for the rest of my life," she said. But she added they needed to avoid falling back into their old dynamic. Charly acknowledged that rebuilding trust would take effort from both of them.

During that period, tensions surfaced. Charly expressed disappointment, saying her mother did not seem fully committed to her health. She questioned why Charity would return to habits that had already caused so much damage.

After an emotional conversation, Charity promised to change course again and recommit herself to healthier living. Her journey remained complicated until the very end — marked by progress, setbacks, heartbreak, and continued attempts to move forward.

Even in death, Charity Pierce's story continues to inspire, as fans across social media flood tribute posts with messages of love, admiration, and support."I'm proud of Charity. She's transformed," one person wrote. Another added, "I'M GLAD FOR HER THAT SHE LOST ALL OF THAT & SHE CAN CONTINUE TO. I WISH HER ALL THE BEST." Someone else wrote, "So proud of her ❤️"