Whitney Thore Contemplated Weight Loss Surgery, but Did She Go Through With It?

You don't have to be a TLC fan to know that the star of My Big Fat Fabulous Life has been a major voice in the body positivity movement. Through the reality series, viewers have watched Whitney Thore — who gained hundreds of pounds as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — lead an active lifestyle while loving her plus-sized body, despite societal pressure for her to feel otherwise. But did Whitney end up getting weight loss surgery?

In November of 2020, Whitney revealed that she was down 70 pounds, which fans thought could have been in preparation for weight loss surgery. It's common for bariatric patients to be asked to lose some weight before getting surgery. That being said, Whitney has most recently shared that she is 330 pounds. It does seem unlikely that a doctor would have asked that she lose so much weight in order to get bariatric surgery. As of now, Whitney has not revealed surgery plans.

During a Season 8 episode titled, "Weight-Loss Surgery," Whitney opened up to her BFF Buddy Bell about her struggles with online dating. She did so by reading a few of the nasty messages she received from complete strangers.

"I was going to send you a message, but I don't go out with wildebeests," one message read. "No wonder why you're single. You're definitely not a prize. Clearly just some lard-a-- and will always be."

"The amount of hateful comments that I've gotten since I delved back into online dating is really discouraging. I mean, it always happens. But it just feels extra s--tty for it to be happening now," she told Buddy, who tried to console her by pointing out, "These people are obviously f--king sick."

An emotionally defeated Whitney insisted, "It happens, like, all the time. I'm so sick of it ... I just wonder if I should just, you know, like get surgery or something just so I can just live a better life, I guess."

To the camera, Whitney explained, "Weight loss surgery has never been something that I've considered for myself and not something that I've particularly been super supportive about for most other people. Deep down, I know that I'm struggling, and I know that I'm dealing with depression on a level that I haven't dealt with in a very long time. And I think that I am seeking relief or solution or a change.”

Whitney went on to share her thoughts about weight loss surgery with her wider circle of friends later on in the episode — and all of them were shocked to hear the 37-year-old was actually considering it.

During an episode titled, "Whitney Gets Her Groove Back," Whitney consulted a doctor about her options if she decided to move forward with weight loss surgery. She spoke virtually with Dr. Bowen about her relationship with food, her history of disordered eating, and her desire to avoid having diabetes. They also discussed the pros and cons of undergoing lap band surgery.

"I'm glad that I had this consultation because some of the information she gave me surprised me," Whitney said, in reference to the surgery not being as risky as she initially thought. "I'm not sure how I feel about it. I want to get another opinion."

Even if she didn't end up going through with the weight loss surgery, Whitney was at least contemplating it at one point in recent months — and it might still be on the table for her in the future. We'll just have to wait and see what happens for sure.

Catch My Big Fat Fabulous Life on TLC, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST.