Family of the Ton star Casey King has spoken openly about his desperation to undergo skin removal surgery after losing nearly 600 pounds, saying his transformation is still not complete.
The 38-year-old Georgia resident weighed 845 pounds at his heaviest and had to bathe in an outdoor tub because he couldn’t physically fit into a tub or shower. After undergoing life-changing bariatric surgery in 2018, he now weighs just 245 pounds.
In an episode of the Truly series Brand new mehe reflected on how far he’s come and his hopes for the future, including a wife and children.
“My lifestyle at my heaviest was more or less non-existent. I didn’t really like people. I didn’t like being seen. I didn’t like socializing,’ he explained. “I felt like a freak show. I didn’t shower inside. I showered outside for a while in a trough pool.’
Casey King, 38, burst into tears as he talked about the loose skin hanging from his body on a recent episode of the Truly series Brand New Me
The Georgia native lost nearly 600 pounds after undergoing bariatric surgery in 2018
“It’s literally like a suit,” he said of the excess skin hanging off his arms, chest, and stomach after his weight loss
King said he had struggled with his weight all his life, noting that he weighed 12 pounds, 6 ounces when he was born.
“My relationship with food growing up was always super toxic. I would definitely say I had a food addiction,” he told the cameras.
After the birth of his cousin, he realized he didn’t want to be “this giant blob of a man” anymore. He couldn’t lift himself off the floor, let alone play with a child.
King recalled how he once had to call for help because he was stuck on the floor of his living room. His cousin and friend had to wrap him in a sheet to hoist him onto the sofa. He went to the emergency room and spent nearly five weeks in the hospital.
‘[The doctors] were like, “You’re going to die. If you stay on this course, you’re going to die soon,” he said.
After he got home, he started going to the gym and lost weight, but eventually came back. He then turned to reality television.
King weighed 711 pounds when he appeared on the second season of the TLC reality series with his three cousins in 2019. Together, the family weighed a total of 2,200 pounds.
He was unemployed and living with his father, Danny, who had to wait hand and foot for him during filming.
King held up a pair of shorts he wore when he weighed over 800 pounds
His father, Danny, admitted during the episode that he partly blamed himself for his son’s problems with eating, but King insisted it was not his fault.
King choked as he talked about how he wanted his father to see him get married and start a family now that his weight is under control.
My father was like an extension of me. He was my cook, my means of transportation, my only friend,” he said. “I wasn’t going anywhere without him.”
Danny admitted during the episode that he partly blamed himself for his son’s eating problems, but King insisted it wasn’t his fault.
“I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined that he would become what he is today,” said his father. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I’ll tell you what, I’m so proud of him.”
King underwent a vertical sleeve gastrectomy to reduce the side of his abdomen while filming Family by the Ton, which he says was “by far the best decision of all.” [his] to live.’
He got choked up talking about how he wanted his dad to see him get married and start a family now that his weight is under control.
“I have all these things I want for me, but I want him to see them,” he said. “I want him to see me completely fulfilled and not pass until one of those things happens. I love him and I owe him all my life.”
King weighed 711 pounds when he appeared on the second season of the TLC reality series Family By the Ton with his three cousins in 2019
At the time, he was unemployed and living with his father, Danny, who waited on him hand and foot while he played video games naked in his room.
King had to bathe in a large metal tub outside because he no longer fit in the shower in his home. He was put on a diet during the show and underwent bariatric surgery
The surgery helped him go from 700 pounds to 631 pounds, and he shared his personal milestones on social media, including the 5K he completed in September 2019 (pictured)
King later revealed the excess skin hanging from his arms, chest and abdomen after his weight loss, saying, “It’s literally like a suit.”
He noted that he has been planning to have skin removal surgery for some time, but “people don’t understand how expensive it is.”
In January 2022, a friend started one GoFundMe page to help him raise money for the surgery. He had a goal of $15,000 and has raised over $19,000 so far.
“I’ve posted photos of this on Instagram, and this is the one where people express their most unfiltered ignorance, not sparing my feelings,” he said of his loose skin.
“People think they’re going to tell you things like, ‘Just lose weight,’ [and] everything will be fine. Well guess what? I lost weight. Everything isn’t perfect because now I have this,” he added, fighting back tears. “I’m not done with my transformation yet.”
King shared that he’s “seeing someone,” but they’re not officially together.
The reality star explained that he has been planning to have skin removal surgery for some time now, but ‘people don’t understand how expensive it is’
“I’ve posted photos of this on Instagram, and this is the one where people express their most unfiltered ignorance, not sparing my feelings,” he said of his loose skin
King said he’s not done with his mental or physical transformation yet
“It’s the closest I’ve ever been to a relationship… It’s just this whole different area of life that I never thought would actually be possible, and for it to be is just really nice.” It’s scary,’ he said.
King recently opened up about his sex life in a video interview with TMZsaid he had sex for the first time a few years ago.
“I’ve never dated before,” he said. ‘I lost my virginity when I was 35, 36. I’ve never had a girlfriend. I literally never really dated until the last year and a half.”
“It’s unbelievable,” he added. ‘Girls are beautiful; they smell nice. They are fun to kiss, to spend time with. Intimacy is great. Affection is great. These are literally things I’ve been hungry for all my life.”
On a Brand New Me, he explained that there is so much more he wants to experience in his life after his weight loss.
“Now that I’ve gotten a taste of it, I just don’t want to stop,” he said. ‘I’m quite proud of myself. I’m a really normal guy who wanted more out of his own life.
“I don’t regret being so tall. I appreciate the person I am today because of what I’ve been through. It has made me very empathetic. I just want my future to feel fulfilled. I would like a family. I would like a wife.’