'Extreme Weight Loss' Show News: Reality Show's Former Contestant Dies
Despite having lost 180 pounds after embracing a healthy lifestyle and fat-burning exercise, "Extreme Weight Loss" contestant Rod Durham seemed not to be in the best of his health at all as he died, presumably due to diabetic shock. The openly-gay high school English teacher was found dead in his hotel room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was spending his spring break holidays.
Durham, 52, was a beloved contestant on the "Extreme Weight Loss" reality show and his endeavors to shed off pounds served as an inspiration to many of the show's viewers. Prior to joining the show, Durham weighed roughly 450 pounds. However, with his sheer determination to lose weight, discipline, hard work, and motivation from his "Extreme Weight Loss" trainers Heidi and Chris Powell, Durham successfully got rid of the unwanted pounds and inches.
"Heaven just got a lot brighter today when Rod entered the pearly gates... while I am selfishly so sad and completely devastated that I won't get to see him on Earth anymore, I am rejoicing for the spirit he is carrying with him and spreading to everyone up there...including my dad… Rod, you will be missed terribly," the Heidi Powell captioned her Instagram post.
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Durham was very vocal about his gratitude to the Powells, referring to them as his "lifesavers." He also declared that his inclusion on "Extreme Weight Loss" was the greatest experience of his life.
While he moved heaven and earth to lose weight during his "Extreme Weight Loss" stint, he was also mustering the strength to reveal his true sexual preference to his father. As his father was a military man, Durham feared that telling him about his being gay would not only lead to his rejection but would also leave his father disappointed.
When the much-dreaded time to speak to his father arrived, he realized that all the fears that he had all his life were just in his mind—his father did not even lift a finger upon hearing him reveal his secret.
"I realized that your parents are your parents, and they love you unconditionally," Durham told Tallahassee Magazine in an interview last year.
While it's true that Durham's weight loss inspired overweight people, his shocking death has left some people wondering if, in one way or another, was caused by his rapid drop in his weight. According to Dr. Roshini Raj via Inside Edition, diabetic shock happens when the level of sugar in the blood elevates significantly and cause the organs to fail, especially to people who already have Type 1 diabetes.
"Losing 180 pounds in one year is extremely rapid weight loss and while you do want people who are very over weight to lose weight it can be unhealthy if it's happening too quickly," Raj remarked.
