Who are 1000-lb sisters: Amy and Tammy Slaton?
Of all the reality shows produced by the TLC channel, 1000 lb Sisters is perhaps the rawest of them all. The reality series, which began airing in January 2020, focuses on the Slaton sisters. Amy Slaton and Tammy Slaton are a pair of sisters from Kentucky, USA. As the title of the show suggests, both sisters suffer from a massive obesity problem. The sum of their weights exceeds 1000lb, hence the title. In this article, we will take a closer look at the life of Tammy and Amy Slaton.
Amy & Tammy Slaton Early Life
Amy Slaton was born on October 28, 1987, and Tammy Slaton was born on July 27, 1986. Born and raised in Dixon, Kentucky, the pair were raised by a single mother Darlene. The pair attended Union County High School and wrapped up their education.
Even though both sisters were of average weight while they were young, things changed for the pair during their teen years. When Amy was 10 years of age, their grandmother passed away which had a real impact on the pair. Talking about their grief, Amy shared,
“My mom worked two to three jobs at a time, and my grandma was basically our mom. When she died, our whole world changed.”
So, when their grandmother passed away, Amy and Tammy turned to packaged foods to fill their belly. With the elder siblings moving out of the family, Amy and Tammy depended on foods like frozen pizza and ramen noodles.
“It’s what we ate to survive, and that stuff is not good for you. Depression and just trying to live all kind of caught up with us. You go to McDonald’s and you can get a cheeseburger for a dollar, but a salad costs like five”.
Health Issues
Over the years, the pair put on massive weight which led to a ton of problems. Not only did the sisters suffer from chronic diabetes and heart problems, Tammy even contemplated suicide. For the better part of her life, Tammy was always homebound. This led to severe mental health issues and Tammy even contemplated suicide. However, the whole idea came as a wake-up call for Tammy who knew she had to make changes. She was dependent on Amy for the most part which only inflated the tension between the sisters.
Finding Fame
The Slaton sisters first rose to fame on YouTube. In 2011, Amy established a YouTube channel where she posted light-hearted pictures of her sister, Tammy. In 2014, the pair attempted the “Chubby Bunny Challenge.” The goal of the challenge was to stuff marshmallows into one’s mouth, one at a time, and utter the phrase “chubby bunny”. The video quickly went viral and the pair found fame on the internet. However, with fame came bullying, and the pair were subjected to harsh comments. They were ridiculed for their weight and the sisters often had to deal with online bullying. In 2017, Amy released a video responding to harsh comments left on their videos.
Yearning for a Change
When the Slaton sisters were introduced to fans in the 1000 lb sisters, Amy weighed 406 pounds and Tammy weighed 605 pounds. Amy is married to Mike Halterman since March 15, 2019. The pair met during their high school years. When Amy realized that she could not be pregnant due to her weight, she knew that she wanted to change. As a result, Amy decided to undergo gastric sleeve surgery and Tammy decided to accompany her. The pair’s experience was documented in the 6-episode documentary, 1000lb Sisters. The sisters were happy to be on the series and hoped that the series would present them in a new light.
“Doing the show is one way to give us a different light because you can only show so much on YouTube. This is actually day-to-day stuff that we deal with.”
This also helped to increase their self-confidence by leaps and bounds. Talking about the whole thing, Amy revealed,
“I can go to the store and not worry about my looks because I feel good about myself regardless of what other people say about me. I’m beautiful the way I am.”
1000-lb Sisters Journey
Since their introduction to the TLC’s 1000-lb sister, Amy, and Tammy have gained more exposure and popularity. In the first season, which premiered on January 1, 2020, Amy and Tammy weighed 406 lbs and 605 lbs respectively. They met with Dr. Charles Procter, a bariatric surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia, who agreed to perform weight loss surgery only if they lose enough weight. Amy managed to reach her goal and underwent gastric bypass surgery in the season finale, while Tammy failed to lose enough weight and was referred to a weight loss clinic.
In the second season, which aired from January 4, 2021 to March 8, 2021, Amy and Tammy faced new challenges and changes in their lives. Amy announced that she was pregnant with her first child, despite being advised by Dr. Procter to wait at least two years after surgery. Tammy continued to struggle with her weight and her health, as she contracted COVID-19 and had to be hospitalized. She also started a long-distance relationship with Jerry Sykes, a married man from North Carolina who had a fetish for obese women. Amy gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Gage Deon Halterman in the season finale, while Tammy weighed 665 lbs and was sent to a rehab facility.
In the third season, which began on November 15, 2021, Amy and Tammy faced more ups and downs in their journeys. Tammy left the rehab facility after losing weight, but soon regained it all and more due to her partying lifestyle and lack of motivation. Tammy’s health deteriorated further as she suffered from a blood clot in her leg and had trouble breathing. Dr. Smith made a house call and confronted Tammy about her choices, warning her that she might not have much time left if she didn’t change.
In season 4 which premiered on Jan 14, 2023, Tammy faces many challenges and setbacks in her quest for weight loss surgery. She suffers from COVID-19, pneumonia, and sepsis, and has to be hospitalized several times. She also gets robbed at gunpoint and loses some of her belongings. She finally gets approved for surgery, but has a difficult recovery and experiences some complications. Amy gives birth to her second son, Glenn, but faces complications during the C-section. She also struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as balancing motherhood and her weight loss journey. She gets support from her sister Amanda, who also decides to start a new chapter in her life by moving out of Tammy’s house. Tammy Slaton marries Caleb Willingham in the season finale, after a whirlwind romance and a surprise engagement. The wedding is attended by Tammy’s siblings, Amy, Chris, and Amanda, as well as her friends from the rehab center. Amy gives a heartfelt toast to Tammy and Caleb, but also reveals that she is no longer a Slaton or a Halterman, as she filed for divorce from Michael.
Amy Slaton Wiki/Bio Facts
Fact | Value |
---|---|
Full name | Amy Slaton-Halterman |
Date of birth | October 28, 1987 |
Age | 35 years old |
Place of birth | Dixon, Kentucky, U.S. |
Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
Height (about) | 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) |
Weight in 2019 | 406 lbs (184 kg) |
Current Weight | 225 lbs (102 kg) (around) |
Eye Color | Hazel Green |
Husband | Michael Halterman |
Wedding date | April 28, 2019 |
Son | Gage Deon Halterman (born November 10, 2020), Glenn Allen Halterman (born July 5, 2022) |
Sister | Tammy Slaton, Misty Slaton, Amanda Slaton |
Brother | Chris Combs |
Mother | Darlene Slaton |
Stepfather | Frank Slaton |
YouTube channel name | Amy Slaton-Halterman (formerly Slaton Sisters) |
YouTube channel creation date | Jan 11, 2011 |
YouTube channel subscribers (as of August 2023) | 526,000 |
YouTube channel views (as of August 2023) | 52 million |
Most popular YouTube video | Chubby Bunny Challenge with Tammy ( 2.5 million views) |
T.V. show name | 1000-lb Sisters |
T.V. show network | TLC |
T.V. show premiere date | January 1, 2020 |
T.V. show seasons (as of August 2023) | 4 |
Weight loss surgery type | Gastric bypass surgery |
Weight loss surgery doctor | Dr. Charles Procter Jr. |
Tattoo | Yes |
Tammy Slaton Wiki/Bio Facts
Fact | Value |
---|---|
Full name | Tammy Slaton |
Date of birth | July 27, 1986 |
Age | 37 years old |
Place of birth | Dixon, Kentucky, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christian |
Zodiac sign | Leo |
Height | 5 feet (152 cm) |
Weight in 2019 | 605 lbs (274 kg) |
Hair color | Brown |
Eye color | Hazel |
Marital status | Widowed |
Husband | Caleb Willingham (November 20, 2022-2023) |
Children | None |
Siblings | Amy Slaton-Halterman (sister), Chris Combs (brother), Misty Slaton (sister), Amanda Slaton (sister) |
Parents | Darlene Slaton (mother), Frank Slaton (stepfather) |
Education | Union County High School |
Occupation | Television personality, social media influencer, YouTuber, content creator, vlogger, and entrepreneur |
Facebook account | Tammy Slaton |
Net worth | N/A |
TV shows | 1000-lb Sisters |