My 600-Lb. Life's Dolly Martinez Dead at 30 After 'Fighting for Her Life'

12 Apr 2026, 19:20 · The Fresno Bee

My 600-Lb. Life's Dolly Martinez has died. She was 30.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my beautiful sister, Dolly," Lindsey Cooper, Martinez's sister, wrote via Facebook on Saturday, April 11, confirming her sibling's untimely death.

"Dolly had the brightest personality she could light up any room with her laughter, her kindness, and her loving spirit," she added. "She had a way of making everyone feel special, and her warmth will stay with us forever."

The statement continued, "While our hearts are broken here, I find comfort in knowing she is now reunited with our dad in heaven. I can only imagine the joy of that reunion. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will always be loved, always be missed, and never forgotten."

No cause of death has been publicly shared at the time of publication. Cooper shared with Parade that Martinez died on Saturday.

Days before her post, she asked fans for prayers amid Martinez's recent hospitalization.

"Today is national siblings day and it for sure was a hard one," she wrote via Facebook. "I haven't made any post or let many [people] know but my sister Dolly is in the hospital and is fighting for her life. At this time I ask for prayers and privacy as we as a family navigate through this hard time."

Martinez appeared on season 10 of the hit TLC reality show, which premiered in 2021. At the beginning of her episode, Martinez weighed just under 600 pounds and was on supplemental oxygen. She was also seen meeting with bariatric surgeon Dr. Now.

"The only thing powerful enough to distract me from darker thoughts is food. Food is my go-to drug that takes my pain away," Martinez shared on the series. "Food is more than just a pleasure. It's my reason for existing."

She continued, "I can't wait for the first bite of something. That will make me forget about all the misery of my life. … Food has caused all of the things I hate about my life, but it is the only thing I have ever had to help me feel good and I don't know where to even begin to change that. Ever since I can remember, food was just a coping thing, I guess. It just made me happy. It still does. Food just makes me happy."

While Martinez moved to Houston to be closer to Dr. Now's office, she ultimately only lost 40 pounds on the show. Martinez was not approved for the weight-loss procedure.

If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at (866) 662-1235. Text "ALLIANCE" to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.

This story was originally published April 12, 2026 at 12:20 PM.