Steven Assanti’s Shocking Hygiene Woes: Dr. Now’s Blunt Confrontation on My 600-Lb. Life

In a memorable and frankly, quite startling, season finale of TLC’s hit reality series My 600-lb. Life, long-time patient Steven Assanti made a return that would send ripples through the viewing audience and within Dr. Nowzaradan’s office itself. On May 27, Steven, accompanied by his brother Justin, faced an immediate and undeniably direct confrontation from Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, affectionately known as Dr. Now. This particular appointment wasn’t just about his negligible weight loss progress; it was about something far more fundamental: personal hygiene. Dr. Now wasted no time in addressing the elephant in the room – or rather, the pervasive odor in his office – with a pointed question, “So what’s going on with your personal hygiene? You heard of something called soap and water?”

Steven’s half-hearted “Yeah” to Dr. Now’s inquiry was met with an unvarnished truth that few doctors would dare to deliver. Dr. Now, known for his no-nonsense approach and unwavering commitment to his patients’ health, bluntly informed Steven, “I have a couple of people back there puking from the smell that you have.” He gestured towards the waiting room and his office, painting a vivid and unpleasant picture of the impact Steven’s lack of self-care was having on those around him. This was not merely a scolding; it was a stark wake-up call, highlighting a severe breakdown in basic self-maintenance that directly jeopardized Steven’s health and his prospects for weight loss surgery.

The exchange continued with Dr. Now pressing Steven about his bathing habits. When asked about his shower’s location, Steven managed to identify it as being within his bathroom. However, his claim of having taken a shower “the day before yesterday” prior to his appointment with the esteemed weight loss specialist and physician was met with immediate skepticism. Dr. Now’s years of experience with complex cases, coupled with his acute senses, allowed him to see through Steven’s evasiveness. The doctor’s intuition, unfortunately for Steven, proved correct, as the physical evidence later revealed the extent of his hygiene neglect.

For individuals battling morbid obesity, maintaining proper hygiene can present significant challenges. Limited mobility, difficulty reaching certain areas of the body, and the presence of numerous skin folds can all contribute to inadequate bathing. These folds can trap moisture, sweat, and bacteria, leading to various skin conditions, infections, and, inevitably, body odor. Dr. Now understands these difficulties, but he also firmly believes that overcoming them is a critical step towards overall health and recovery. His insistence on basic hygiene isn’t just about social etiquette; it’s about preventing serious health complications that can arise from prolonged neglect, especially in patients with compromised immune systems and pre-existing health issues.

Indeed, it became evident that Steven’s skin was bearing the brunt of his prolonged neglect. He mentioned to Dr. Now an “allergy around his stomach region,” which upon examination, Dr. Now quickly diagnosed not as an allergy, but as a direct consequence of inadequate hygiene. The skin in areas prone to sweating and friction, like the stomach folds, can easily become irritated, develop rashes, and even lead to fungal or bacterial infections if not regularly cleaned and dried. This physical manifestation of neglect served as further proof that Steven was not making the necessary effort to care for himself. Dr. Now, with his characteristic directness, instructed Steven to rectify his hygiene habits immediately, emphasizing that this was non-negotiable for his health and future progress.

However, Dr. Now’s advice often faces an uphill battle with Steven. Their relationship throughout his journey on My 600-lb. Life has been fraught with challenges. Steven’s history on the show is marked by numerous setbacks, including an infamous incident where he threw a tantrum and ordered pizza while in a hospital setting for his weight loss journey. His resistance to following medical advice, his often confrontational attitude, and a clear pattern of self-sabotage have made him one of the most memorable and controversial patients featured on the show.

A year prior to this particular visit, Steven had been approved for bariatric surgery, a significant milestone in his weight loss treatment plan. Yet, this crucial step was derailed when Dr. Now discovered Steven had developed an addiction to pain killers. This addiction necessitated a detour into rehabilitation, highlighting the complex interplay between physical and mental health in extreme obesity cases. The need for comprehensive care, addressing not just diet and exercise but also psychological issues and substance abuse, is a recurring theme on My 600-lb. Life, and Steven’s story is a prime example of these intertwined struggles.

During this latest visit, despite his ongoing challenges, Steven reportedly believed he might have achieved some weight loss. He admitted, however, that adhering to his strict diet program remained a significant struggle. The reveal of his actual progress was disappointing: he had only lost four pounds. This minimal loss, coupled with the immediate and pressing issue of his body odor and skin infection, underscored the depth of his continued struggles. For Dr. Now, Steven’s awful stench wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a glaring red flag, identifying a most immediate health issue that needed to be addressed before any significant progress could be made on the weight loss front.

The journey to extreme weight loss is never solely about food intake. It encompasses profound changes in lifestyle, mental fortitude, emotional well-being, and critically, self-care. Steven Assanti’s story vividly illustrates how intertwined these elements are. His inability or unwillingness to maintain basic personal hygiene speaks volumes about his overall struggle with self-worth and discipline. Dr. Now’s consistent, albeit often exasperated, attempts to guide Steven underscore the immense patience and dedication required when working with patients facing such complex barriers to health.

The presence of Steven’s brother, Justin, also offers another layer to this narrative. While Justin has had his own struggles with weight and health, his journey often served as a counterpoint to Steven’s more turbulent path. The dynamic between the brothers, sometimes supportive, other times strained, highlights the critical role family systems play in the success or failure of weight loss efforts. External accountability and genuine encouragement are often vital ingredients that Steven seemed to lack consistently, or perhaps, actively resisted.

Ultimately, Steven Assanti’s return episode was a stark reminder that weight loss is a holistic endeavor. It’s not just about the numbers on the scale, but about cultivating a fundamental respect for one’s own body and taking proactive steps towards health. The incident with the body odor served as a powerful metaphor for deeper issues Steven needed to confront. Until he can embrace basic self-care, the path to sustainable weight loss and improved health will remain an incredibly steep and difficult one for him, a challenge that Dr. Now, despite his frustrations, continues to relentlessly push him to overcome.