Charity Pierce, once considered one of the heaviest women alive, shocked the world with her weight-loss transformation. Living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Charity reached a peak weight of 353kg (778 lbs), making simple tasks like walking, bathing, or even sitting painful. But her story is not just about numbers. It’s about trauma, love, loss, and the fierce determination to take her life back.
Video: World’s Heaviest Woman Attempts To Lose Weight To Wed
A Dangerous Spiral: When Food Becomes a Coping Mechanism
Charity’s relationship with food began as a coping tool for childhood trauma. Growing up in a home marked by domestic violence, food became her comfort—her safe place. But over time, that comfort turned toxic. She developed a severe eating disorder that spiraled out of control, pushing her weight to life-threatening levels.
At her heaviest, Charity was effectively imprisoned by her body. She couldn’t leave her home, needed help with basic hygiene, and struggled with mobility. Her left leg swelled abnormally due to a lymphatic condition, making walking nearly impossible.
Fighting for a Future: The Decision That Changed Everything
Charity knew something had to change. With a wedding planned to her then-fiancé Tony Sauer—17 years her junior—she found a reason to fight. Her goal wasn’t just to wear a white dress; it was to live. She reached out to TLC’s My 600-lb Life in a desperate attempt to access help and hold herself accountable.
She knew sharing her journey publicly might be her only shot at survival.
Medical Intervention: When Hope Comes With a Scalpel
Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a bariatric surgeon in Houston, Texas, saw past the number on the scale and agreed to treat her, despite her being nearly 200 pounds over the typical threshold for surgery. Under his care, Charity embarked on a strict diet and exercise regimen that helped her shed 60kg (130 lbs) in five months. That critical progress allowed her to finally undergo gastric bypass surgery.
The procedure reduced her stomach to the size of a baseball—but that was only the beginning.
Video: You won’t believe her insane transformation🤯
Battling Complications: It Wasn’t Just the Weight
After losing massive amounts of weight, Charity faced an unexpected new enemy: excess skin. Hanging folds of skin caused infections, severe discomfort, and self-esteem issues. She underwent numerous skin removal surgeries, including one where doctors removed over 35 pounds of sagging tissue.
However, the surgeries came with complications. Charity suffered from repeated cellulitis infections and once slipped into septic shock after surgery to remove 17kg of skin. For a while, it seemed like every step forward brought two steps back.
“I felt like I was making progress, but my body just couldn’t keep up,” she admitted. “I was trapped all over again, only this time by the aftereffects of the weight I had lost.”
Loss and Grief: A Dream Deferred
One of Charity’s greatest motivations for losing weight was to visit her dying mother, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Tragically, she was still recovering from surgery and unable to make the trip in time. Her mother passed away before they could reunite—a loss that still haunts her.
Despite the heartbreak, Charity pressed on.
A Family Cycle: When the Past Repeats Itself
While Charity battled her health crisis, her daughter Charly was quietly developing her own weight struggle. Having grown up in an environment dominated by emotional eating, Charly reached 181kg (almost 400 lbs) by mimicking her mother’s habits. The cycle of food as comfort had taken hold once again.
Charity expressed guilt but also renewed motivation. “I knew I had to break the pattern,” she said. “For myself and for my daughter.”
Video: This 756 Lbs Woman Wants To Lose Weight To Wed BUT What Happens Shocked Everyone..😶
Rebuilding a Life: More Than Just Weight Loss
Charity’s weight loss wasn’t just physical—it was psychological. Years of therapy helped her uncover the emotional scars behind her food addiction. With professional help, she learned new coping mechanisms and developed healthier routines.
Therapy, she said, was the real turning point. “Once I started healing on the inside, everything on the outside got easier.”
Her appearance changed dramatically, but so did her outlook. From struggling to stand to walking unassisted, from being housebound to taking control of her health—Charity transformed her life in every possible way.
Where Is Charity Now?
Recent photos show a much slimmer Charity, her face glowing with hard-earned confidence. While she continues to face challenges—including skin surgeries and long-term health issues—she’s a symbol of hope for anyone stuck in a body they no longer recognize.
She now lives a quieter life, focusing on her health, her daughter, and maintaining the progress she’s fought so hard for. Though not every day is perfect, Charity remains a living testament to the power of persistence and the human spirit.
Charity Pierce’s story is one of heartbreak, hope, and relentless courage. Her transformation wasn’t easy. It came at a cost—physical, emotional, and personal. But her will to survive and reclaim her life pushed her through the darkest moments.
Today, she’s not just someone who lost over 200kg. She’s someone who gained her freedom. And in doing so, she gave countless others the courage to start their own fight.