Imagine being so overweight you cannot support yourself to shop for food. Now times that by two.
Meet Lee Sutton and Rena Kiser, a morbidly obese couple who feature on this week’s premiere of the new season of My 600-lb Life on TLC.
Lee is aged 42 and weighs 714lb — more than three-and-a-half times the average American male — while Rena, at 39, weighs in at 542lb.
The pair met and fell in love at a rehab center for people with obesity.
Watch our exclusive clip from the Season 6 premiere of My 600-lb Life below, as they are filmed doing their daily shop — but it’s not an easy task.
Due to their weight, the couple have to transport their motorized wheelchairs to the grocery store in a trailer then unload them and get in before browsing the aisles.
In the clip the pair describe how they make their daily trip, and explain how fleeting the food high is. Despite buying vast amounts, they regularly need to revisit the store for more food.
Rena, who is hooked up to oxygen, says: “Neither one of us would be able to do it by ourselves.”
After arriving at the store, Lee needs help exiting their vehicle before getting in his wheelchair.
After both are in, the next phase begins — entering the store to stares and often nasty comments.
Rena says: “Once we are inside, the anxiety of being in public starts to sink in, it’s like going through the walk of shame.”
Lee explains how he feels “judged” by the outside world. He says: “They’re not used to seeing somebody of my size. It’s like driving down the highway and seeing a train wreck. You’re gonna stare at it and wonder what happened.”
Rena says grocery shopping is important so they can eat, but the choices she makes are nutritionally disastrous and include chips, soda, and fatty snacks.
Lee describes the addictive feelings they both have and says: “I’m so hungry, by the time I get home…I know we are gonna eat everything.”
He says: “It’s like laying down and getting a good massage. When it’s over you just want more.”
Rena says: “We’ll eat everything here either today or by tomorrow.” She then adds that they will need to repeat the trip the next day.
Resigned, she says: “I know doing this is killing us. But we both can’t stop. We’re already barely functioning as it is, and it’s just a matter of time before it’s too late.”
During the My 600-lb Life premiere, Lee and Rena will make the journey from Missouri to Texas to seek out weight loss expert Dr. Younan Nowzaradan’s help. But can he help them and inspire their progress to a healthier existence?
Watch our exclusive clip from the My 600-lb Life premiere below:
Season 6 of My 600-lb Life premieres this Wednesday at 8/7c on TLC.