For Destinee LaShaee, weight loss was just one of the important transformations they bravely underwent in their short life. Assigned male at birth, LaShaee was the first person identifying as transgender to appear on "My 600-lb Life." Their February 8, 2022 death at age 30 was confirmed by their brother, Wayne Compton (via Facebook). No cause of death was given but Compton's Facebook elegy, which includes the words, "I'm sorry you felt you had no other option," suggests that LaShaee may have died by suicide.
LaShaee, who had endured several tragedies over the course of their life, including the deaths of a brother and a sister, had been open with the public about their mental health issues, most notably, depression. During filming of "My 600-lb Life," they were quoted as saying "food is the only thing I can turn to" in coping therewith. Four days before their death, they posted on Facebook about their ongoing sadness.
Ironically, just days earlier, on January 24, 2022, LaShaee was celebrating their dramatic weight loss on Instagram. According to People, LaShaee weighed nearly 700 pounds when they began their weight loss journey, depicted in Season 7 of the TLC show in 2019. Over the course of the next three years, they lost more than 500 pounds.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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