‘My 600-Lb Life’ viewers have become fans of the show’s star, Dr. Now. Where is he from and what’s his history? Learn more about the TLC personality.
For over a decade, TLC’s My 600-Lb Life has hooked viewers with stories about morbidly obese individuals trying to turn their lives around. In each installment, people fly to Houston, Texas in order to get treatment. The show follows them before, during, and after their weight loss journey. Each story is different except for one fan-favorite personality, who holds the series together.
At the center of every episode is Dr. Younan Nowzaradan — better known simply as “Dr. Now” — the medical expert who provides medical care to the series’ subjects. Naturally, fans have become curious about the 78-year-old’s own story. Where is he from originally and what did he do before reality TV? Continue reading to learn more about Dr. Now’s ethnicity and background.
Where is ‘My 600-Lb Life’ star Dr. Now from?
Dr. Now is an Assyrian Iranian-American, who was born and raised in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Assyrians are an indigenous ethnic group that’s native to a geographical region in what is now Western Asia, and they are a minority within Iran.
Assyria originated as a Mesopotamian civilization before growing into an empire. In modern geography, the Assyrian homeland is now divided between several Middle Eastern nations, including Iran.
In 1970, Dr. Now graduated from the University of Tehran and moved from Iran to the United States. He enrolled in Saint Louis University’s Medical Orientation Program the following year and then completed his surgical internship at St. John Hospital in Detroit.
Later on, he moved to Houston, where he remains today and where My 600-Lb Life partly takes place. Dr. Now is primarily employed at Houston Obesity Surgery, though practices at other local hospitals.
How old is Dr. Now?
Younan Nowzaradan also known as Dr. Now, is an American doctor, TV personality, and author. He specializes in vascular surgery and bariatric surgery.
The surgeon was born on October 11, 1944, in Tehran, Iran. This puts his current age at 78 years old.
He is a Libra. Librans are extroverted, cosy, and friendly people. Librans, like the Scales that symbolise the sign, are often concerned with attaining balance, harmony, peace, and justice in the world. With their vast stores of charm, intelligence, frankness, persuasion, and seamless connectivity, they are well-equipped to do so.
Instagram @younannowzaradan
What is Dr. Nowzaradan’s height and weight?
Despite his advanced age, the 75-year-old doctor leads a healthy lifestyle and regularly exercises. He is 1.75 meters tall at 5 feet, 8 inches, and weighs about 82 kilograms. Other than that, little is known about his physical characteristics.
What is Dr. Nowzaradan’s nationality and ethnicity?
The famous surgeon and reality star is an Iranian-born American.
Instagram @younannowzaradan
Who is Dr. Now’s wife?
Dr. Nowzaradan got married to a woman named Delores McRedmond in 1974. According to The Celebs Info, Delores worked as a secretary before meeting Dr. Now and later became a stay-at-home wife.
A few years after their marriage, the two of them had three children. Reportedly, Delores had little support from Dr. Now in raising their three children. They would ultimately divorce in 2002 after 27 years.
Dr. Now and Delores had three children together. Their first child, Jonathan, was born in February 1978. They later had their first daughter, Jennifer, in February 1980. Delores then gave birth to their second daughter Jessica in May 1983.
Jonathan has previously worked as a director and executive producer for My 600-lb Life and likely worked with his father on a regular basis. He was also a producer on other reality shows, including the Where Are They Now spinoff to 600-lb Life.
Meanwhile, Jennifer is a working artist who has displayed her work at several art galleries since 2001. She also works as a high school art instructor. In an online bio, she refers to both of her parents as inspirations for cultivating her creativity.
Dr. Now has developed a fan following thanks to ‘My 600-Lb Life.’
While the patients on My 600-Lb Life don’t get paid much, Dr. Now is estimated to have made millions between the TV show and his surgical practice.
In addition to the series itself, he’s parlayed his high profile and expertise into publishing two books: 2017’s Last Chance to Live and 2019’s The Scale Does Not Lie, People Do.
His online store includes T-shirts and magnets, and he even has a Cameo account.
But while the TLC series certainly granted him a much wider audience, Dr. Now has endeared himself to viewers because of his own story and personality.
He moved from Iran to the United States and built up a successful medical career that’s been going strong for decades. And he’s continuing to work at an age when many other people would be enjoying their well-earned retirement.
He’s also part of a not-so-short list of famous Assyrians from Iran that also includes tennis great and Olympic gold medalist Andre Agassi, UFC fighter Beneil Dariush, and Jonathon Aivez — who, under the stage name Jack Douglas, was one of the pioneers of another type of reality TV. Aivez helped establish the travel genre of TV series and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dr. Now may not have reached that status quite yet, but he’s certainly become a household name.
