Dolly Martinez, who appeared on Season 10 of TLC’s My 600-Lb. Life, died on April 11, 2026, at age 30, according to reports from her family. Her sister, Lindsey Cooper, announced her death on Facebook. Several days later, Martinez’s mother, Staci Thurman, told TMZ that her daughter died from congestive heart failure after being hospitalized in Fort Worth with fluid affecting her heart and lungs.

Martinez became known to viewers through the 2022 episode “Dolly’s Journey,” in which she documented her struggles with severe obesity, food addiction, mental health and serious mobility limitations while seeking treatment and possible weight-loss surgery.

Dolly Martinez obituary: My 600-Lb. Life star dies at 30

Dolly Martinez, who became known to television audiences through TLC’s My 600-Lb. Life, has died at the age of 30, according to her family and multiple entertainment news reports.

Martinez’s death was announced by her sister, Lindsey Cooper, on April 11, 2026. Cooper shared a tribute on Facebook remembering Martinez for her personality, kindness and ability to make people feel welcome. The announcement prompted an outpouring of condolences from people who remembered Martinez from her appearance on the reality series.

The initial announcement did not disclose a cause of death. Two days later, Martinez’s mother, Staci Thurman, told TMZ that Dolly died from congestive heart failure at a Fort Worth hospital. Thurman said Martinez had been dealing with medical problems and had been hospitalized after developing fluid around her heart and lungs.

The news is especially significant to My 600-Lb. Life viewers because Martinez’s 2022 episode documented an intensely personal struggle with obesity, emotional eating, mental health and her effort to qualify for weight-loss treatment.

What happened to Dolly Martinez?

The most important confirmed developments are:

• Dolly Martinez died on April 11, 2026.
• She was 30 years old, according to the family announcement and major reports about her death.
• Her sister Lindsey Cooper announced the death publicly.
• Her mother, Staci Thurman, later told TMZ that the cause was congestive heart failure.
• Martinez was hospitalized in Fort Worth, Texas, in the final weeks of her life.
• Her mother said she had been hospitalized on March 29 with fluid affecting her heart and lungs.
• According to the account given to TMZ, Martinez was placed in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator the following day.
• She ultimately did not recover.
• Martinez had previously appeared on Season 10 of My 600-Lb. Life in the episode “Dolly’s Journey.”

The distinction between the initial announcement and later reporting is important. When her sister first announced her death, the cause had not been publicly disclosed. The information about congestive heart failure came later through her mother’s account to TMZ and was subsequently reported by outlets including E! News and Us Weekly.

Dolly Martinez’s final illness

According to her mother, Martinez had been experiencing health problems before her final hospitalization.

TMZ reported that Martinez went to a Fort Worth hospital on March 29, 2026, after experiencing problems involving fluid around her heart and lungs. Her mother said Martinez was placed into a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator on March 30. She remained critically ill until her death on April 11.

E! News independently reported the same broad account after speaking about the situation through the TMZ report, identifying congestive heart failure as the cause given by Martinez’s mother.

It is important not to go beyond those reports. Public reporting establishes what Martinez’s mother told TMZ about the hospitalization and cause of death, but a detailed medical report or complete clinical explanation has not been publicly released.

For that reason, claims attempting to identify additional medical causes or specific complications should not be treated as confirmed unless supported by a family statement, medical record or another authoritative source.

Who was Dolly Martinez on My 600-Lb. Life?

Martinez appeared in Season 10 of TLC’s My 600-Lb. Life.

Her episode was titled “Dolly’s Journey” and aired on January 19, 2022. IMDb lists the episode as Season 10, Episode 12, with Martinez appearing alongside physician Younan Nowzaradan, widely known to viewers as Dr. Now.

At the time of her television appearance, Martinez was 25. Her story centered on her effort to address extreme obesity and the physical and emotional difficulties surrounding it.

Episode records list her starting weight at approximately 593.2 pounds, with a later recorded weight of about 552.8 pounds during the period documented by the program. That represents a reported loss of approximately 40.4 pounds.

Her journey was not straightforward.

Martinez discussed using food as a coping mechanism and spoke openly about difficult experiences and mental-health struggles. She also had significant physical limitations and relied on supplemental oxygen during her appearance.

Why did Dolly Martinez move to Houston?

One of the major developments in Martinez’s episode was her move from Fort Worth to Houston.

She relocated in an effort to be closer to the medical care associated with her weight-loss journey and hoped to eventually qualify for weight-loss surgery.

However, losing weight was only one part of the process. Martinez did not receive approval for the surgery during the period shown on My 600-Lb. Life. TMZ reported that she lost roughly 40 pounds but did not reach the point of being approved for the procedure while filming.

That outcome is important when looking back at her story because it shows that the episode did not end with a conventional “success story” in which a patient immediately received surgery.

Instead, viewers saw a complicated medical and personal journey involving weight loss, family support, emotional health and significant physical challenges.

Dolly Martinez’s struggles with food and mental health

Martinez’s story attracted attention because she was unusually open about the connection she felt between her emotional experiences and her eating habits.

During her My 600-Lb. Life appearance, she discussed food as a way of coping with difficult emotions and other personal struggles.

Her episode also showed how heavily she depended on people around her for everyday assistance. Reports about the episode describe her as having significant mobility limitations and needing help with basic activities.

It is worth treating these details with care. My 600-Lb. Life is a reality television program built around highly personal medical journeys, and the program’s portrayal represents what was documented during filming. It should not be interpreted as a complete medical history of Martinez’s life.

What did Dolly Martinez’s family say after her death?

Martinez’s sister Lindsey Cooper was the family member who publicly announced her death.

In the Facebook tribute reported by multiple outlets, Cooper described Dolly as someone with a bright personality who could fill a room with laughter, kindness and warmth. She also expressed the family’s grief and said she took comfort in believing Dolly had been reunited with their father.

The tone of the family’s message is significant because much of the public conversation around Martinez had focused on her weight and health.

Her family’s tribute instead emphasized her personality and relationships, portraying her as a loved family member rather than simply a television personality associated with a medical condition.

Her mother also told TMZ that Martinez was surrounded by family and friends when she died, including her half-sister Lindsey, whom Staci described as Dolly’s best friend.

Did Dolly Martinez have weight-loss surgery?

There is no verified evidence that Dolly Martinez underwent weight-loss surgery during the period documented on My 600-Lb. Life.

During her television journey, she was trying to lose enough weight to qualify for surgery. She lost approximately 40 pounds during the period shown, but reports indicate that she was not approved for the procedure at that point.

There have been various online discussions about what may have happened to Martinez after her television episode.

However, readers should be cautious with claims about a later surgery, a specific later weight or an unaired follow-up episode unless those claims are supported by reliable documentation.

The most firmly documented post-show development is her death in April 2026.

Was Dolly Martinez on My 600-Lb. Life: Where Are They Now?

There is no reliable evidence in the sources reviewed for this article establishing a later official Where Are They Now? episode featuring Martinez.

Her documented appearance is “Dolly’s Journey,” the Season 10, Episode 12 installment that aired in January 2022.

That distinction matters because social media posts sometimes mix together updates about My 600-Lb. Life participants, later personal updates and television follow-up episodes.

Without an official episode listing or reliable reporting, it would be inaccurate to state that Martinez returned to the show.

Dolly Martinez’s legacy on My 600-Lb. Life

Martinez’s television appearance remains memorable because it showed more than a weight-loss number.

Her story involved family dynamics, emotional eating, mental health, physical limitations and the difficult process of trying to change longstanding habits.

The show documented a woman attempting to make substantial changes while dealing with serious health challenges. Although she did lose weight during the filming period, her journey did not reach the surgical milestone she had hoped for.

Her death at only 30 has therefore prompted renewed interest in her episode and in what happened after viewers last saw her.

But the most respectful way to understand her story is not simply through the lens of her weight.

The comments from her family after her death emphasize that she was remembered for her humor, kindness, warmth and relationships.

Why Dolly Martinez’s death matters to fans

Deaths involving former reality television personalities often lead viewers to revisit the episodes that introduced them to the public.

In Martinez’s case, that interest has also raised questions about the long-term health challenges documented during her appearance.

However, it is important to avoid suggesting that one particular factor automatically caused her death.

Her mother reported congestive heart failure as the cause, while also describing a period of serious illness and hospitalization before Martinez died. Those facts can be reported without attempting to establish a broader medical conclusion that has not been publicly documented.

The story also highlights the difference between a television narrative and a person’s full life. Martinez appeared in one episode, but that episode represented only a limited period of her life.

What happens next?

At this point, there is no indication of a further public investigation or official proceeding connected to Martinez’s death.

The major facts available to the public are her family’s announcement of her death and her mother’s subsequent account of the cause and circumstances.

Further details could emerge if the family chooses to release additional information, but no such details should be assumed.

For now, the clearest account is that Dolly Martinez died on April 11, 2026, at 30, following a hospitalization in Fort Worth. Her mother attributed her death to congestive heart failure, while her sister publicly remembered her as a loving and warm person.

The bottom line

Dolly Martinez, the My 600-Lb. Life participant featured in the Season 10 episode “Dolly’s Journey,” died on April 11, 2026.

She was 30, according to her family and the major reports announcing her death. Her mother later told TMZ that Martinez died of congestive heart failure after being hospitalized with fluid affecting her heart and lungs.

Martinez’s television journey had shown her trying to lose weight and qualify for weight-loss surgery. Episode records indicate that she lost about 40 pounds during the period documented, but she was not approved for surgery while the show was filming.

Her family’s statements after her death focused not only on her difficult health journey but also on the person they knew: someone remembered for her laughter, kindness and loving personality.

FAQs

1. When did Dolly Martinez die?

Dolly Martinez died on April 11, 2026, according to the announcement from her sister, Lindsey Cooper. She was reported to be 30 years old.

2. What was Dolly Martinez’s cause of death?

Her mother, Staci Thurman, told TMZ that Martinez died from congestive heart failure. Thurman said Martinez had been hospitalized after developing fluid around her heart and lungs and later required a ventilator.

3. How old was Dolly Martinez when she died?

Dolly Martinez was 30 years old, according to her family’s announcement and multiple major media reports.

4. What episode of My 600-Lb. Life featured Dolly Martinez?

Martinez appeared in Season 10, Episode 12, titled “Dolly’s Journey.” The episode aired on January 19, 2022.

5. How much weight did Dolly Martinez lose on My 600-Lb. Life?

Episode records list Martinez at approximately 593.2 pounds at the beginning and about 552.8 pounds at a later point in the documented journey, representing a loss of approximately 40.4 pounds.

6. Did Dolly Martinez get weight-loss surgery?

She was not approved for weight-loss surgery during the period shown on the program. Reports say she lost roughly 40 pounds while trying to meet the requirements for surgery.

7. Did Dolly Martinez appear on My 600-Lb. Life: Where Are They Now?

A verified later Where Are They Now? appearance has not been established in the reliable sources reviewed for this article. Her documented appearance was the Season 10 episode “Dolly’s Journey.”

8. Who announced Dolly Martinez’s death?

Her sister, Lindsey Cooper, announced Martinez’s death in a Facebook post on April 11, 2026. Cooper remembered her sister for her personality, kindness and loving nature.