Strenkert’s extraordinary and rapid growth baffled his family, prompting them to seek medical guidance through television appearances.
“He’s not someone who eats excessively—that’s one of the main questions people ask,” his mother, Laurie, explained on The Jerry Springer Show. “That’s exactly why we’re concerned. Where is all this growth coming from?”
Their media exposure eventually led to a connection with a geneticist, who diagnosed Strenkert with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder mostly affecting males. The condition is known for causing significant overgrowth both before and after birth, congenital abnormalities, and an increased risk of tumors.
Reflecting on his childhood, Strenkert clarified, “People assume we did it for fame or money, but the truth is we were just trying to get help from genetic specialists—something our insurance wouldn’t cover,” he told The Mirror.
He also credits Jerry Springer for having a lasting impact. Beyond helping his family get answers, Springer maintained contact off-camera. “He truly cared,” Strenkert shared with the Daily Mail before Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action debuted on Netflix. In 2017, he returned to the show to thank Springer in person. Springer passed away in 2023.
In recent years, Strenkert has continued to navigate challenges linked to his condition. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, his weight soared to nearly 500 pounds. “Due to health issues and mental struggles, I became very inactive,” he admitted on Reddit. “I turned to gaming and really immersed myself in it.”
His dedication to health and fitness eventually took him to the edge of anorexia. Looking back, he explained: “Now, I’m more balanced. I don’t obsess over every detail, but I make better choices. Physically I feel the same, but mentally I’m in a much better place—and that means everything.”
By December 2023, he began weightlifting at a gym, earning praise from his doctor: “They told me I look healthier than I did at both my heaviest and thinnest,” he said. Strenkert attributes part of his muscle development to his condition: “I’ve only been lifting at a commercial gym since December, LOL. I’m really enjoying the transformation—I love strength training.”
By October 2024, his weight had dropped to 361 pounds—a remarkable milestone. “The last time I weighed this much, I looked completely different. I’ve come a long way,” he said, noting that he never imagined seeing definition in his obliques and abs.
