When Amber Rachdi appeared on season 3 of “My 600-lb Life” in 2015, she had many of the same issues that lots of the show’s cast members had. She was only 23 years old and weighed 657 pounds. She struggled with anxiety, depression, and a fear of failure, and used food as a coping mechanism. She was overweight as a child, weighing 160 pounds by age 5. She depended on others, such as her parents, to survive and to do everyday tasks. She was unable to stand for longer than 30 minutes and relied on a scooter or wheelchair to get around. She had a “supportive” boyfriend who really only served to enable her poor eating habits. Fortunately, she was anxious to change and put in the hard work to save her life.
Happily, Amber was able to do that, working with Dr. Younan Nowzaradan to live a healthier lifestyle. She proved her ability to follow Dr. Now’s advice and lose weight on her own, thus qualifying for gastric bypass surgery. After the surgery, she changed her habits, incorporating healthy eating and exercise, moving out of her parents’ house and living independently, and worked with a therapist to find different habits for coping with anxiety, guilt, and depression.
By the end of Amber’s year followed in her episode of “My 600-lb Life,” Amber had lost 257 pounds, and — if not for her already beautiful face — would be practically unrecognizable now. See how she’s doing now after the jump.
Amber Rachdi is an Instagram model and influencer now
What’s also true of many “My 600-lb Life” success stories, Amber Rachdi appears much happier now. She’s rocking her Instagram page as a model and influencer with 214k followers, and she’s absolutely stunning as she shows off the latest makeup tips and fun hairstyles. Her gorgeous cheekbones and impeccable eyebrows are as sharp as her nails, and her new body is over 400 pounds thinner.
But she’s also brutally honest about her continuing struggles, encouraging others while refusing to give medical advice. “I resonate so deeply with the fears and feelings of shame people carry to me,” she said on Facebook, “But, I am not a doctor or a nutritionist or a health educator.” Despite anxieties that she is failing people, she says “I would be horribly negligent if I tried to tell anyone what to do with their bodies or health.”
Amber also confirmed she won’t appear on “My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now,” citing her unpleasant experience with the show. She told Starcasm how “disorganized and jarring” the filming was, saying “they ran late, reshot difficult to replicate scenes, and really sort of acted like bullies.” They also exhibited “next level unethical” behavior by “threaten[ing] to postpone or cancel” surgeries if she didn’t cross certain boundaries.
Fortunately, fans can keep up with her on social media. She’s now married to a different fellow, she “graduated with a 3.5 GPA” in English (per Facebook), and she’s outspoken about body positivity. Keep living your best life, Amber!
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