The Slaton sisters from the reality television show, “1000-lb Sisters,” experienced a rollercoaster ride during their weight-loss journey which started in 2020. The sisters began their fitness quest with the help of a medical expert in Atlanta, but only one of them was successful in acquiring bariatric surgery, with the other dropped by her doctor as she continued to struggle to qualify for the same procedure by demonstrating commitment to weight loss. As their priorities shifted in the third season, Amy and Tammy made decisions individually that changed the trajectory of their lives, which could end up straining their relationship permanently. The show has become one of the most-watched reality-TV shows on TLC, and the Slaton sisters became two of the most recognized faces in the world of reality television.

The premise of the “1000-lb Sisters”

“1000-lb Sisters” made its TV debut on 1 January 2020 on Discovery Channel’s affiliate network, TLC. It featured the weight-loss journey of two morbidly obese women from Dixon, Kentucky, whose combined weight of over 1,000lbs, close to 450kgs, which has fascinated millions of viewers around the world.

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They both seek medical intervention as they need to lose weight to be healthier, and at the same time be able to achieve their ultimate life goals. The TV show explored the difficulties that obese people deal with each day, the many reasons why they reached that unhealthy stage, and the options that are available to change their lives.

Who are the Slaton Sisters: Amy and Tammy

In 2014, the Slaton sisters attracted attention when younger sister Amy uploaded on her YouTube Channel a video of them having a grand time doing the “Chubby Bunny Challenge.” Two overweight individuals filling their mouths with a certain number of marshmallows and uttering the words, ‘Chubby Bunny’ was highly entertaining for a lot of people, and it went viral, gaining over a million views at that time. The trending video reached some of the TLC’s creative people, and they offered the sisters a chance to star in their own reality-TV show entitled “1000-lbs Sisters.”

Amy Slaton weighed 405lbs during the first season

Between the two Slaton sisters, Amy was less heavy at about 405lbs or 180kgs when the show started airing. At that time, she was already married to her high school boyfriend, Michael Halterman, who worked as a mill operator.

She relied on government assistance through the monthly disability program as she was born with an eye defect; one of her eyes was later declared legally blind. She was already taking care of her sister, Tammy, who was living with them. The sisters were bullied when they were young, due to their weight, and even their own mother called them names such as ugly, stupid, and fat; they only felt genuine love from their grandmother. The sisters made a vow as kids that they would forever take care of each other when they grew up.

Tammy Slaton, weighed over 600lbs during the first season

The older sister, Tammy, weighed over 600lbs or about 270kgs when she first appeared in the series, “1000-lb Sisters.” She already had mobility issues – couldn’t walk without the aid of a walker, and became tired after walking just a few steps. She needed someone to assist her with her daily routines, including taking a bath, changing clothes, cooking, and just moving around. Amy practically took care of her along with Michael every single day. Tammy didn’t have a good relationship with her mother, and after her grandmother passed away when she was 11 years old, things spiraled down.

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Food was her major comfort, and she became an emotional eater. Since they didn’t have enough money to have food options, they mostly ate unhealthy junk food and fast food, although that can be more expensive.

Slaton Sisters Weight-Loss Journey

The TV series, “1000-lbs Sisters,” premiered in 2020, with both sisters apparently determined to get the help that they needed. Amy’s ultimate goal for losing weight was to become pregnant, and Tammy’s was to regain her independence. They also knew that they needed to live a healthier lifestyle simply to prolong their lives. While they were both determined to lose weight, they faced many obstacles. Problems kept popping up along the way, some of which were unfortunately created by the two of them, with the ‘help’ of some enablers.

The Beginning – Season 1

Tammy had several health issues even before she and her sister decided to seek medical intervention to ameliorate their obesity. She has hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, a problem with her gallbladder, and one of her lungs had a blot clot.

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All of these issues had led her to be put on life support twice in the past, episodes she didn’t want to repeat. While Amy doesn’t share her sister’s mobility problems, she realized that if she didn’t do something about her weight, she might end up just like her.

Before they made the huge step of consulting with a doctor for bariatric surgery, they went to their mother to discuss it. It was the first time Tammy traveled in eight years using a car, as the only time she’d been out of the house was in an ambulance. Since she tires easily, the trip to their mother was Amy and Michael’s gauge if Tammy could do it without significant extra problems. The only way for Tammy to comfortably ride the car was to sit on the floor at the back with all the seats folded. While she didn’t have any untoward incidents during the trip, meeting their mother was another story. Their mother, Darlene, wasn’t very supportive, and even told her daughters that she expected them to chicken out in the end. Darlene might have her reasons for saying that, but it wouldn’t have hurt to be a little more encouraging.

Amy arranged for an online consultation first, because the medical expert that they chose was based in Atlanta, Georgia. From the get-go, Dr. Charles Daniel Procter Jr. advised them that they both needed to get the procedure as soon as they could arrange it. When they came in for a face-to-face consultation, the doctor was able to examine both of them properly. One of the pre-requisites to avail of the surgery was to lose about 100lbs. They were given instructions on how to start their weight-loss journey, including eating right and doing some daily exercises. At first, everything seemed to be going great, but eventually Tammy started becoming grumpier, and the sisters fought most of the time. Before the first season ended, it was only Amy who was able to undergo surgery, because Tammy had a hard time sticking to the diet. Dr. Procter dropped Tammy as a patient, since it would be difficult for him to monitor her progress efficiently as they lived in Kentucky, which was about a five to six-hour drive from his clinic.

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New Doctor, New Problems – Season 2

The relationship between the Slaton sisters became a little strained, because of what happened in the first season. When Tammy had a setback, she became meaner and would lash out at Amy. She was frustrated with herself, and while she was happy for Amy, there was a tinge of jealousy as she witnessed her sister’s success. Amy, on the other hand, understood where Tammy was coming from, and avoided getting into confrontations with her. While she continued to lose weight in the second season, she placed herself in a risky situation by becoming pregnant. She and Michael were ecstatic with the news, since it was her ultimate motivation for wanting to lose weight. However, the timing wasn’t right, and the doctor told her that it could be dangerous for her since the wounds from her bariatric surgery weren’t healed yet. The doctor was concerned that her body wouldn’t be able to handle all the changes, and it would have been less risky if they had waited for two more years.

Due to Amy’s pregnancy, she couldn’t assist Tammy each day, and so their brother Chris Combs volunteered to help and monitor her.

Tammy moved right next door to Amy’s place so as not to be a burden to her pregnant sister. Chris, who was also overweight, was inspired to enter the same weight-loss journey while taking care of Tammy. With the new doctor, Dr. Eric Smith, Tammy along with Chris was determined to qualify for the bariatric surgery.  However, her new boyfriend, Jerry, proved to be detrimental to her plans as suspected by Chris. When they went back to the doctor for another consultation, instead of losing weight, Tammy had gained more, and now weighed 665lbs, over 300kgs. Jerry likes big girls and instead of encouraging her to limit her food intake, he enabled her to eat more; it was later discovered that she’d eaten her 30-day meal plan in just two days.

The second season ended with Amy delivering the baby without complications, but through a caesarian operation because of the baby’s breech position. They named the baby Gage Deon Halterman, and everyone was relieved that both mother and son were in good condition.

If everything went well with Amy, it was one problem after the other with Tammy, as in the final episode she was rushed to the hospital due to the Covid-19 virus.

Tammy’s Woes, Slaton Siblings Vacation – Season 3

The third installment of “1000-lb Sisters” proved to be one of the most engrossing, with all five Slaton siblings featured in it. There were many revelations, fights, and life-altering decisions.

Tammy was shown staying at a rehab facility to treat her food addiction, and that would mean more time for Amy to focus on her family. However, Tammy left the rehab center prematurely as she was terribly homesick, and Chris came to pick her up. It was unfortunate, as she was only about 40lbs short of completing her required weight loss to qualify for the bariatric surgery. To make matters worse, she has a new boyfriend, Phillip aka BBWKing, who only dated people over 300lbs, and was enabling her to consume more food; everyone around her was appalled by her choices of men.

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Later on, she confessed to Amy that she broke up with Phillip because he told her that her main problem was her insecurities, and that she’s tired of fighting with him. Amy told her to use her experience with him as motivation to lose weight.

This was also the season in which the two sisters had one of their nastiest fights. It was when Amy and Chris suggested that they hire the services of a nurse to assist Tammy, but she was against it. They argued about it and Tammy went ballistic – she was becoming meaner and meaner when things didn’t go her way. Since Chris and Amy have their own priorities to attend to, they hired a nurse, Tisa, to assist Tammy. Initially it went well, and fans couldn’t help but love Tisa because she wouldn’t put up with Tammy’s manipulations. At that time, Tisa became the fan-favorite when you look at the online conversation of fans on forums and social media. They all agreed that the nurse was what Tammy needed to successfully lose the required weight before surgery. So, fans were curious as to why Tisa no longer appeared in the series.

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There were allegations that she was slapped by Tammy but no one can confirm it. Until the TV show explains what happened to her, fans will continue to theorise about it.

When all five Slaton siblings were about to go on a vacation together for the first time in their lives, Tammy said, ‘Oh boy a family vacation, I’m excited, I can’t wait, I want to travel, I want to be free.’ Apparently, they were dirt poor when they were growing-up, and they didn’t have the money to go on trips. So, everyone was shocked when Tammy had tantrums right when they arrived at the cabin. She didn’t want to go down in the car, and told them that she didn’t want to go on vacation in the first place. She even said, ‘I want to go home, I didn’t want to come, I bend over backward for you guys, I’m a homebody at heart.’ Michael and Amy then brought her to a hotel. Even if they understood her fears, no one wanted to do anything with her at that point.

On the next day, the siblings went to have a Western-themed family photoshoot. They called Tammy, but she didn’t want to join and so they let her be.

They again reached out to her so they can have lunch together, and since it involved eating out, she said yes. While they were eating lunch, their family photos arrived. Tammy complained that they were rubbing it in her face that they had a lot of fun without her, and started using abusive language. Amanda, one of her older sisters, put Tammy in her place by calling her out on her bad attitude and selfishness. Tammy almost ruined their vacation by not wanting to be with them, but her siblings had a great time without her. It was frustrating, as they’d all planned everything so that Tammy would be comfortable but she acted like a spoiled brat. Based on the social media and online forums reactions, Amanda had become the new fan favorite, even if she had the least screen time of all the Slaton siblings, but as she voiced all of the viewers’ feelings about Tammy.

How much weight have the Slaton Sisters lost so far?

Amy initially lost 100lbs to qualify for the bariatric surgery and continued losing more.

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For a time, her weight went down to 270lbs but when she became pregnant, she stopped the diet, but after giving birth, she went back on track and kept on pushing to shed more pounds. In the third season, she mentioned that she lost 40lbs and she was 50lbs short of her ultimate weight goal so had joined a workout group for mothers with small kids. Initially she was reluctant, as the other members of the group looked so stuck up but later on she found out how warm and friendly they were. It was also mentioned that she used to wear 5XL shirts, and proudly claimed that she’s now down to XL.

Tammy’s weight kept going up and down since she couldn’t deal with her food addiction. There were days she was motivated, but more days when she gave up on her goal. Her brother was worried that her current doctor might drop her too, if she continuously sabotaged her own weight-loss program.

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Tammy was close to losing it altogether, especially after Amy told her that her family would be moving out, as someone made an offer on her house. She was asked if she would be okay on her own, Tammy told her that she didn’t know, but they’ll all soon find out. She was sad that she was losing her best friend. A preview of the coming episodes showed her partying with boys and drinking alcohol.

The lives of the morbidly obese sisters led fans to debate on social media many issues such as obesity, food addiction, accountability, and being an enabler. The contrasting situation of the Slaton sisters and their life-changing decisions on the show for the past three seasons has opened many people to the dangers of obesity. If initially, every fan out there of the TV show was rooting for Tammy, many of them gave up on her after watching the third season. It seems that she’s simply not serious enough to really want to change her life, which may well mean that it’s cut short.

Without a doubt, the Browns have become one of the most famous families in the US, since “Sister Wives” premiered on TLC on 26 September 2010. More than two million people watched when this polygamous family was first introduced to the public and, good or bad, the interest in them hasn’t waned in the years that followed. As the show chronicled their daily lives, one can see how Kody Brown juggles having four wives and 18 children in his life. Being part of this family has its perks, as most of them attest to, but like all marriages, theirs were not without its problems. With the revelations in its 16^th season, its loyal viewers have begun to wonder how long the Browns can keep their family intact.

Meet Kody Brown and the Sister Wives

Kody Brown – Husband to four women, Father to 18 kids

Kody grew up on a ranch in Northern Wyoming and was raised in the Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) faith. His religion doesn’t practice polygamy, but its principle is something he knew he would embrace.

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When he was 20, his parents converted to the Fundamentalist Mormon religion – at 21, Kody started going to this church.

In the beginning, he claimed to love each of his wives ‘wholly, passionately, and eternally.’ Kody believed he shares a destiny with each one and they are meant to be together in one family. Loving four women at the same time might be hard to understand for those outside their faith, but Kody said he loves his wives for different reasons, but doesn’t love one more or less than the others. He found peace in Meri’s home, talked business with Janelle, and enjoyed the lightness of being together with Christine. Robyn offered emotional honesty that forces him to deal with things he would normally avoid. He admitted that he’s unsure if his wives could fulfill all his needs and vice versa, but their bond is something he would need for the rest of his life.

Meri Brown – First Wife

She’s from California; her family moved to Utah when she was five, and her parents were devout followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After years of studying the principle of polygamy, Meri’s father eventually took four wives after her mother, and Meri has 27 siblings. Her family was generally a happy one, so she thought she would live the polygamous lifestyle as well.

She met Kody through his sister, and they became friends and were inseparable; he said strict abstinence made their relationship more meaningful. They became engaged on Christmas Eve in 1989, shared their first kiss on New Year’s Eve, and married on 21 April 1990; she was 19 and he was 22. They settled in Wyoming; both knew there would be other wives in their family, but they enjoyed a monogamous relationship for three years.

Janelle Brown – Second Wife

She grew up in Utah, and was raised in the LDS faith. Janelle had no idea that polygamy is real until she met her future husband, Adam, who belonged to a polygamous family. They were married for six months, then called it quits as they weren’t romantically, emotionally and spiritually compatible.

After the divorce, her in-laws continued to look after her, and she remained close to them including his sister Meri. Kody enjoyed a platonic relationship with her, but soon realized they were destined to be together. He casually broached the possibility of them being in a relationship, but she rejected it at that time.

Janelle fell in love with the polygamous lifestyle and said, ‘I loved the idea of a sisterhood, the notion of companionship, and the possibility of a family that could grow in so many different ways.’ Kody’s father tried to set her up with Kody’s brother, but she preferred Kody as he was the kind of father she envisioned for her future kids. She approached him and said, ‘I think I belong in your family,’ which Kody was pleased and relieved to hear. If Meri had any misgivings about Janelle, she didn’t voice them. It was a short courtship – they dated only once and shared one innocent kiss, before they were married in a spiritual ceremony in 1993.

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Their first year of marriage was a struggle, as Meri and Kody didn’t know how to incorporate Janelle into their lives. She lived with them more as ‘an eternal houseguest than a wife.’ During their eighth year of marriage, and after giving birth to their fifth child, she suffered postpartum depression. When she and Meri had a big fight, she and her kids went to live with her mother for months. She found a house of her own, and built a life for herself; she went back to school and earned a degree in accounting. Kody later stayed at her house when it was their time to be together. What she had with Kody before was friendship and an intellectual connection, so this gave them the chance to enjoy their moments alone and to know each other on a ‘more intimate and spiritual level.’ She later rejoined the family when they moved to Utah.

Christine Brown – Third Wife

Christine was raised in a polygamous family, with her father the head of their church.

She was 17 when she realized that she wanted to be part of a plural marriage, but as a third wife. Being a first wife never appealed to her, as she believed it would be too much work and require self-sacrifice; she’s independent and liked her freedom too much. Being a second wife was also not an option for her, as she considered it as a wedge that comes between the couple, so it’s an uncomfortable position. Christine said that the third wife is in a blessed position, as she ‘makes peace between the two wives.’

As Christine, Kody and Meri all belonged to the same church, it was inevitable that they would meet during gatherings. He made quite an impression on her and she started to have a crush on him. He said that there’s an undeniable spark between them, but that he didn’t want to explore this yet, as Meri made it clear to him that she wasn’t prepared for him to court Christine, who at some point became her friend. Kody admitted to being young and superficial back then, so when Christine did something that grossed him out, it cooled the attraction he felt for her.

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After three years of friendship, a short courtship followed, and then they were married in 1994. Kody felt overwhelmed when it dawned on him that he’s bringing Christine to a household full of tension – Meri and Janelle didn’t get along, and then on top of that, Janelle was pregnant with their first child. However, her positivity and kindness brought peace to their situation. She lived with her sister wives for three months before opting to live in a different house, as she wanted to deepen her relationship with Kody.

Robyn Brown – Fourth Wife

She lived in Southern Utah, and grew up in a polygamous family – her mother was her father’s second wife. Robyn married a guy from a prominent family in the community, and had three children with him. She said she was misled and mistreated by him, so they separated after seven and a half years, and were divorced.

There was an instant attraction between her and Kody when they first met. After seeing her only a handful of times, Kody already felt an emotional and spiritual connection with Robyn.

Meri was drawn to Robyn as well, and became interested in having her as a sister wife. After getting consent from all his wives, he invited Robyn and her kids to his home to meet the whole family. She immediately fell in love with them, but it took a while before she fell in love with him.

They were having financial difficulties, so their wedding kept being delayed, so Robyn’s family was unable to move to Lehi, Utah to be with Kody. It only pushed through in 2010, when the TLC network said they would pay for the wedding; at that time, he was already in discussion with them about doing the reality show. She had a difficult time being a fourth wife, as her sister wives became jealous of her relationship with Kody.

“Sister Wives” – The reality show

On coming out as a polygamous family

Those in a polygamous marriage avoid going public about their unconventional lifestyle, as most people regard it in a negative light.

Being on a reality show means opening oneself to public scrutiny and Kody knew he was putting his family at risk when he agreed to do the show; he and his wives could lose their jobs, and his children could be bullied at school. However, he said that he was tired of hiding, lying about his life, and living like a second-class citizen. He’s proud of having a ‘wonderful family – a perfectly happy family – with beautiful wives and beautiful children.’ He believed that the world was ready to hear their story.

On living under one roof

By the time the show started, Kody had three wives. At that time, he had been legally married to his first wife, Meri for 20 years and they have one child named Mariah, aged 14. He has had a ‘spiritual union’ with Janelle for 17 years and they have six children, aged five to 15, and then with Christine for 16 years; they have five kids, aged six to 14, with one more on the way.

They lived in a 3,000-square-foot house that was built for a polygamous family, as it had three separate apartments.

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It allowed them to live close to one another but with each wife having her own space – Janelle lived on the left side while Meri was on the top right and Christine at the bottom right. Their relationships as a family improved significantly, and the sister wives learned to accept each other’s differences.

On Robyn and her kids joining the Brown family

Kody was married to all three women before the children were born, so they grew up with three moms. The news that Kody was courting a woman was met with a bit of apprehension, as it was the first time it happened in 16 years. Although their kids liked Robyn, having a new mom and siblings felt weird to them, and most of them said it would take some getting used to. The three wives liked Robyn as well but they were all settled in their ways, so adjusting to having her and her kids as part of their family was difficult. Kody divorced Meri in 2014, so he could legally marry Robyn and adopt her children.

On relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2011

Plural marriage is illegal in 50 states so when they came out as a polygamous family through the show, the government of Utah launched an investigation into their family; the Browns then moved to Las Vegas to escape anti-polygamy laws. They couldn’t find a place that would suit them, so each wife has her own house where she and her kids with Kody have the opportunity and space to bond individually with him. However, the houses were close enough that they could still function as a family.

The Sister Wives in 2022

‘Love should be multiplied, not divided,’ Kody said as a way to explain his polygamous lifestyle in simple terms. His wives have been fully committed to the principle of marriage, but the reality of sharing a husband was far from what they envisioned it to be. They thought they knew what they were going into and even had grand expectations on what it would be like, but once they were living the life, they couldn’t handle it.

Each one struggled to find a place in the family – every time a new wife joined the family, there would be jealousy, insecurity and resentment. It took them years to find a balance, and live in relative peace. However, the addition of a fourth wife has brought changes none of them wanted or were prepared for.

On the latest season of “Sister Wives” aired from 2021 to 2022, it was revealed that the Browns were falling apart, although it was a long time coming. Patience was wearing thin, and giving up has become an option. They have been living in separate homes since they moved to Flagstaff, Arizona in 2018, which it caused the family to drift apart. The pandemic made the situation worse, as the safety protocols prevented them from spending time together. Not all agree on the rules that Kody set for them, to keep everyone safe. With each wife and their respective children doing their own thing, being together even during the holidays wasn’t possible. It didn’t seem that they all belonged to one family anymore.

They bought a 20-acre property in Coyote Pass where they could live together, but they couldn’t seem to agree on anything when they were discussing the plans for it.

Christine had reached her limit, and didn’t want to stay married to Kody. She said that she’d been struggling the whole time they were in Flagstaff, and feeling that she didn’t matter or that she didn’t have his support; she wanted a partnership and a different life than this. Her Instagram post in November 2021 revealed that she’d left Kody after 25 years. She and Kody agreed to co-parent their kids; their youngest was only 11 at that time. He issued a statement on his Instagram: ‘Although we are moving forward on different paths, we will always remain committed parents.’ Based on her Instagram posts, people could see that she’s finally happy and thriving.

Meri’s relationship with Kody has been in a dark place for quite some time. As a first wife, she has been having issues with her sister wives since the beginning of their plural marriage.

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Being in a loveless ‘spiritual union’ with Kody after their divorce might have played a role in her being involved in a catfishing scandal in 2015. He later made it clear to her that the most they could ever be are friends – distant but amicable.

Janelle has been at odds with Kody over many things, as she said, ‘I get really antsy if I feel like I can’t make the choices that control my own life.’ The most recent disagreement they had was about the rules that she needed to follow in her house during the pandemic, so that he could come and be with them. Nothing has been resolved, since their adult kids’ opinion on the matter differed from their father.

Robyn’s relationship with Kody is the only one that has flourished over the years; many believed that she received preferential treatment from Kody. He’s primarily staying with her during the pandemic, but contrary to what others might say that this is what she wanted, it’s not. This wasn’t what she signed up for in a plural marriage, although she wanted some independence as well.

In a polygamous family, the relationship between the wives is just as important as the relationship between husband and wives. When the sister wives aren’t getting along, it affected their marriages as well. For the Brown family to live in harmony, it all boils down to how committed each of them is to the family and in making things work. Clearly, this is far more difficult than any of them had imagined.