In 2012, when Pauline Potter earned the Guinness World Record for being the world’s heaviest woman, she weighed as much as a full-grown female polar bear.
After being named the “world’s fattest woman,” the now 61-year-old star of TLC’s My 600-lb Life underwent a jaw-dropping transformation that left fans stunned by her new appearance.
Pauline first rose to fame in 2011 when she officially received the Guinness title for the world’s heaviest woman, tipping the scales at over 700 pounds (320 kilograms). At the time, both she and her then-husband, Alex, were proud of the recognition.
“Alex encouraged me to eat whatever I wanted. He would make massive meals with turkey and roast potatoes and heap them on my plate,” Pauline shared about the man she married on Valentine’s Day in 2003, less than a year after meeting him online. “Because he loved my size, I set a goal to reach 700 pounds, just to make sure I was even bigger for him.”
In an interview with The Mirror, Pauline explained that Alex was drawn to larger women and even took pleasure in feeding her. “He’d make spaghetti and French bread for me, bring home pudding, and feed it to me. It was intimate—it felt loving,” she said.
However, according to Dr. Chris Steele, the former resident doctor for ITV’s This Morning, encouraging such behavior was far from loving. “At 700 pounds, Pauline weighed more than her age at 47 and was risking her life. Anyone that overweight faces enormous potential health problems,” he said.
The World’s “Fattest Woman”
When Pauline found out that Guinness had named her the “world’s fattest woman,” she was taken aback. Soon after, the husband who had once celebrated her size left the relationship, leaving her dependent on her 17-year-old son, Dillon.
At her heaviest, Pauline could barely take care of herself. She said she could “only feed” and “wipe” herself, relying on Dillon for nearly everything—from mobility to personal hygiene.
“I have a walk-in bath and sit on a stool with a flexible shower head,” she explained. “There’s a lot of work involved. With all the folds of skin, infections can form, so I wash every day, dry off carefully, and use cornstarch in the folds around my stomach and behind my knees.”
She admitted, “My son has to help me with the areas I can’t reach.”
Because she could no longer fit into her car, Pauline used a mobility scooter to get around, often relying on Dillon to help with errands and grocery shopping. “Sometimes people make cruel comments,” she said. “I try to ignore them, but I feel bad for Dillon. I know he gets embarrassed, and I worry what his friends might think.”
The Turning Point
Determined to reclaim her independence and improve her health, Pauline decided to seek medical help. Her turning point came when she appeared on TLC’s My 600-lb Life in 2014. Under the care of renowned bariatric surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, affectionately known as “Dr. Now,” she began a long and demanding journey toward recovery.
When she first joined the show, Pauline weighed 643 pounds. She initially struggled to stick to Dr. Now’s strict 1,200-calorie diet plan but gradually began to see results. After losing 44 pounds, she finally qualified for gastric bypass surgery.
However, the road to recovery wasn’t easy. After her procedure, Pauline faced several setbacks. Instead of consistently losing weight, she sometimes gained it back, often resisting Dr. Now’s guidance. “Her attitude is her biggest problem right now,” Dr. Now remarked at the time, frustrated that Pauline still refused to get out of bed and continued to eat unhealthy food.
Extreme Weight Loss
Eventually, Pauline turned her life around. With renewed determination, she regained control of her habits and committed fully to her health. Over the years, she went on to lose an incredible 500 pounds and even underwent skin removal surgery, reaching her lowest recorded weight.
In January 2022, Pauline made her first Instagram post in a long time, proudly revealing her progress. “I’m proud to say that now I’m down to 223 pounds,” she wrote alongside photos of her dramatically slimmer figure. “It feels amazing not to have to depend on anyone else for even the smallest things.”
Her journey, from the world’s heaviest woman to a symbol of resilience and transformation, continues to inspire countless people around the world.
Motivated by her incredible weight loss journey, fans continue to flood Pauline with encouragement and praise as she reaches new milestones.
“You’re such an inspiration—what an unbelievable transformation! You look amazing!” one supporter commented. Another wrote, “Congratulations! You look absolutely beautiful,” while a third added, “You look fantastic! What an achievement!”
What words of encouragement would you give to someone battling food addiction? Share your thoughts with us, and pass this story along so others can join the conversation and find hope in her journey.