Where is Charles Bridgeman now? 'My 600-lb Life' star butts head with Dr Now over strict diet and bariatric surgery
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Charles Bridgeman appears to be sticking to his weight loss plan and is currently residing in Everett, Washington following his 'My 600-lb Life' Season 12 debut. He seems to have followed a rigorous diet, as demonstrated in the show.
He also frequently goes to the neighborhood park, sharing videos of himself there on social media. The reality TV star also appears to have several pets, having reportedly picked up a cute puppy around Thanksgiving in 2023.
He appears to be benefiting greatly from his trips, as he is frequently seen smiling.
Charles announced to the public at the end of September 2023 that he had lost weight and was now just 385 pounds. He weighed around 677 pounds at his first weigh-in on the TLC show, and 604 pounds at his second and final weigh-in.
Considering these principles and the fact that it appears he did not have weight-loss surgery performed by Dr Younan Nowzaradan, the transformation is undoubtedly remarkable. He has a large following of people who have been cheering him on for a very long time, and his love for his family appears to be stronger than ever.
Who is Charles on 'My 600-lb Life' Season 12?
TLC's 'My 600-lb Life' primarily targets those who want to lose weight while following Dr Now's advice. In the seventh episode of Season 12, 'Charles' Journey', Charles continued along the same route while expressing his will to alter his life with the assistance of others.
He frequently disagreed with Dr Now, the medical expert, during his contact with him. Despite the fact that their relationship was far from straightforward and frequently resulted in difficult disputes, he had an intriguing journey.
Charles revealed during a conversation about his history that his mother had a methamphetamine addiction. She had taken him from Washington all the way to Apple Park, California, when he was a little child, without telling his father along the way, out of fear that his father's parents would take Charles away.
He said that it was difficult to be alone with his mother since "she was there; she just also wasn't there." Charles would typically spend time with his grandparents since he frequently believed that his mother was intoxicated.
It seems that Charles' grandmother enjoyed baking a lot and would frequently prepare large quantities of food, which he would frequently partake in, gaining 180 pounds throughout his middle school years. Charles became Brad's and Cheyana's big brother when he was a freshman in high school.
He loved them both and spent a lot of time with them.
He started taking drugs when he was in high school, reaching a weight of about 250 to 300 pounds. His mother then threw him out of the house, and he lived with his grandparents.
Charles's grandma kicked him shortly after he graduated as well, discovering that he took drugs. As a result, he was homeless for a few years.
When Charles woke up and saw that someone was kicking him, he decided to make a change in his life. He was given a ticket to his siblings' residence in Everett, Washington, but on the way there, he was discovered to have meth, which resulted in his imprisonment.
He was quickly moved to a rehabilitation facility with the support of his high school friends and their parents. He was able to stop using drugs as a result, but he also began to eat more.
Charles was relocated to Brad and Cheyana's house shortly after they decided to assist him.
What happened to Charles on 'My 600-lb Life' Season 12?
Charles had been out of the treatment facility for around four years when he made his TLC debut. Brad was his sister's full-time caregiver while she was at work.
Yelena, a personal care assistant, assisted him with bathing and meal preparation as well. Charles attended a call with Dr Now in an attempt to lose weight, and the doctor advised him to aim for a weight of around 100 pounds for his height.
He sternly warned him not to go to Houston, Texas, advising Charles instead to get more exercise, adhere to the suggested diet, and work with the neighborhood clinic in the interim.
Charles's car seemed to have broken down, so he was unable to attend his appointment. Nevertheless, he seemed to stick to the suggested diet, but Dr Now was not happy with this during their fourth catch-up month.
Charles finally hung up on Dr Now in a fit of rage because the doctor was frustrated by his seeming lack of communication and desire to show up for clinic sessions. Charles stuck to Dr Now's diet for a few more months before making the decision in Month 7 to surprise him by going to his Houston, Texas, clinic.
Charles and Brad made the decision to surprise Dr Now by calling him when they got to Houston. They weren't prepared for the response they got.
Dr Now stated that he was against Charles boarding a flight because he believed it would have harmed his health. Furthermore, he didn't think that a gesture like this was required—especially in light of how their previous call had ended.
Over the following several months, Charles did lose weight, but he refused to travel to Houston, Texas, as Dr Now had requested. This meant that he was no longer a member of the doctor's program, but Charles persisted in his belief that diet and exercise were the best ways to lose weight, and he hoped to persuade Dr Now in the future that his operation should be performed in Washington.
How much does 'My 600-lb Life' Dr Younan Nowzaradan charge?
Dr Now, the star of 'My 600-lb Life,' is committed to treating his patients and appears to follow the Hippocratic Oath to the fullest extent feasible. He revealed this during an interview with Houstonia magazine.
"Looking at the moral obligation that we’ve got, you see somebody who has no life who could have a life. We don’t need to be rich. We do make a living, but we don’t need to worry about making a living out of every patient we see," he told the outlet.
"I never let the camera change my behavior toward any patient. I do exactly the same thing if the camera is there or not," he remarked.
So it's hardly surprising that Dr Now doesn't charge people for visits and treatments on the program. Fans would agree that he does not appear to be the sort of person who would profit from the difficulties of others.
'My 600-lb Life' Season 12 airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on TLC.