'Extreme Weight Loss' Star Brandi Mallory's Cause of Death Revealed as Autopsy Surfaces

The Gist:

• Former Extreme Weight Loss contestant Brandi Mallory was found dead in her car in a Chipotle parking lot at age 40.
• The cause of death was revealed as "complications of obesity," per her autopsy's report.
• Brandi was a contestant on Extreme Weight Loss during the show's fourth season in 2014.

On Nov. 9, 2023, Brandi Mallory, one of the stars of the ABC series Extreme Weight Loss, was found dead in a Chipotle parking lot. Following the shocking news of the former reality star's death, many want to better understand exactly what happened to Brandi.

Brandi appeared on Season 4 of Extreme Weight Loss, which aired in 2014. She was known for being an advocate for body positivity. Now, almost a decade later, there are many unanswered questions regarding her death. Here's what we know.

The Atlanta Police Department reported that Brandi was last seen on surveillance footage on Nov. 8, 2023, as she drove to a local Chipotle. Brandi entered the restaurant, returned to the vehicle with her food, but never left.

The owner of a nearby deli reported Brandi's car to the police after he noticed it the next morning. He noticed that the car was still there later in the day.

Brandi was ultimately found dead in the car at the age of 40. A month after her death, TMZ reported that Brandi’s cause of death was “natural” and due to “complications of obesity,” per The New York Post. Brandi’s autopsy states she had several factors in her overall health, including her weight, an enlarged heart, and some elevated blood indicators suggestive of prediabetes.

The Fulton County Police Department in Atlanta has ruled out any injuries or foul play that could’ve possibly contributed to Brandi’s death. The department also noted Brandi had traces of marijuana and alcohol in her system at the time of her death but confirmed neither substance played a role in her demise.

“It is my opinion that Brandi E. Mallory died of complications of obesity was considered a significant condition contributing to the death,” the autopsy stated.

Brandi's family held a candlelight vigil for her on Nov. 12. On Nov. 19, Brandi's family held a public viewing in Georgia, followed by a memorial service on Nov. 20. As news of her death spread, some of her fellow contestants from Extreme Weight Loss paid tribute to her legacy.

Kim Williams Maxile, a contestant on Season 5 of the show, paid tribute to Brandi in a video.

"Rest in Love sis," she captioned the video. "To my fellow Extreme Weight Loss @extweightloss sis, @brandimallory you will be missed. I’ll never forget while I was at boot camp for season 5 we watched your season and it inspired us to keep going."

"You truly made an impact on this world with your zest and your passion for body positivity," she continued. "I’m blessed to have gotten to experience you in this world."

During her time on the show, Brandi competed in a Half Ironman, an extreme fitness challenge that requires contestants to run, swim, and bike more than 70 miles in under eight hours.

Brandi continued her fitness journey after the show, mainly through her love of dance. She posted regularly about her love of dance, as well as everything else in her life on Instagram. Her final post on the platform was from Nov. 3, and she offered no indications to her followers that she was suffering from any health problems.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Brandi's family and friends during this tragic time.