What You Need To Know About TLC's 1000-Lb Sisters

The TLC series 1000-Lb Sisters premiered on January 1, 2020. The reality show follows the lives of two Kentucky-based sisters, Amy and Tammy Slaton, according to the TLC press release, as they journey through weight-loss challenges and health struggles.

Amy, who was 31 for the premiere of the show, weighed 406 lbs. while Tammy, who was 32 at the time, weighed 605 lbs., according to People. The Slaton sisters were "tipping the scales at over 1000 pounds combined," per the press release.

The show wound up being a huge success as it documented the daily lives of these two sisters. Amy's biggest dream was to start a family with her husband but she was facing fertility struggles "due to her weight and health issues," per the press release. Meanwhile, Tammy needed help with day-to-day tasks and ended up moving in with Amy and her husband after a trip to the hospital. As with most siblings in close quarters, the show documented some rifts and stress between the two sisters but they seem to keep an unshakable bond no matter what happens. Here's everything to know about the spirited Slaton sisters.

Amy and Tammy Slaton first gained public attention thanks to YouTube, where Amy documented her life with Tammy and offered candid glimpses into their day-to-day activities. She did makeup tutorials and shared cute videos of DIY projects. With over 200,000 subscribers at the time of writing, it's clear that fans loved their heartfelt interactions and it was actually their fans, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, who reached out to TLC to ask that they make a show.

Despite their engaging online presence, the Slaton sisters have faced serious struggles. Tammy became extremely isolated due to her mobility issues, and she told People in December 2019, "I attempted to kill myself last January." For Amy, her health issues became apparent as she struggled to get pregnant with husband Michael Halterman, per Distractify.

Tammy said, "I had a feeling that if I didn't make changes now, I wasn't going to live past 35," according to People.

So the sisters agreed to join TLC as they chronicled their weight-loss journey. Their main goal was to lose "enough weight to be able to qualify for bariatric surgery," according to The Blast.

Bariatric surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic, involves surgical changes to one's digestive system to help with weight loss. However, patients must lose weight before qualifying for this surgery to reduce the risk of complications, according to Virtua Health. This is the exact challenge that fans watched in 1000-Lb Sisters' first season.

Amy and Tammy Slaton faced grief in their childhoods. According to People, their father died when they were very young. Amy shared with the Louisville Courier Journal that she was a normal weight until the age of 10, when she faced another loss: their grandmother passed away.

"My mom worked two to three jobs at a time, and my grandma was basically our mom. When she died, our whole world changed," Amy explained. 

Without anyone to care for them full-time, the sisters had to cook for themselves, relying on frozen and prepackaged food. "It's what we ate to survive, and that stuff is not good for you," Tammy explained. "Depression and just trying to live all kind of caught up with us."

Amy added: "Yeah, it's pretty bad. You go to McDonald's and you can get a cheeseburger for a dollar, but a salad costs like five," per the Louisville Courier Journal.

Despite this difficult start, Amy and Tammy made great strides on 1000-Lb Sisters and are committed to their journey. Amy said to People, "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." While Tammy added, "I don't feel like I have to wear a mask or hide my body when I leave the house anymore. I'm not afraid to let people see me."

Way to go, Slaton sisters!