Amy Slaton may have ‘swapped addictions’ since weight loss surgery, says therapist – the lesson she can learn from Tammy
AMY Slaton’s Labor Day arrest may have exposed her unique response to her high-profile weight loss — which greatly differs from her sister Tammy’s, a psychotherapist unaffiliated with siblings has claimed.
She urged the 1000-Lb. Sisters star to “redirect” her choices and rethink how she wants to be in the world, perhaps taking inspiration from her co-star sibling.
Amy, 36, was arrested at a safari drive-through in Tennessee on Monday.
Police were called after Amy claimed a camel bit her arm. Two children under the age of eight were with her.
She was held on drug and child endangerment charges with Brian Scott Lovvorn before being released on bond.
Arrest warrants exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun show that Amy had magic mushrooms and 80 grams of marijuana in the car.
Amy pleaded not guilty to drug possession and child endangerment charges during a court appearance Thursday.
Psychotherapist Sherie L. Seff, LCSW-R, who has not treated Amy or Tammy Slaton, said Amy’s possible drug use would not be “uncommon” given a historical food addiction.
“In weight loss surgery, or during any extreme weight loss, there can be a swap out of addictions,” she told The U.S. Sun.
“There is food addiction, substance addiction, and alcohol addiction, and it is not uncommon for people to sub out alcohol for food.
“There are also weed or magic mushrooms that could be swapped out.
“But weed stimulates the appetite and creates the munchies.
“The snacking and old habits would emerge while sleeping on what could be another 500 to 750 calories.”
Interestingly, Amy’s arrest came after Tammy, 38, opened up about her weight loss journey on TikTok.
“You’re not alone. You can do anything once you put your mind to it. Never give up,” the reality star told fans at the end of August.
Tammy confessed to having felt lost after dropping a massive 500 pounds since the start of her journey.
“I take a lot of pictures, a lot of selfies,” Tammy said, remembering how she once weighed 717 pounds.
“And I do, not because I think I look good — well, I do, a little bit. But mostly because I want to remember how big I was, what I look like,” she added.
“I think I was so focused on losing weight that I lost myself,” she concluded before admitting to turning to alcohol instead of food.
WORLD’S APART
Seff claimed Tammy’s more positive messaging contrasted with Amy’s recent arrest.
The weight loss therapist suggested Tammy’s new experiences might feel “intoxicating.”
“Tammy has had this staggering weight loss,” she said.
“You can sense her joy when she writes and reports on social media; we can not take that from her.
“There is self-esteem, self-worth, and self-value as she returns to get in touch with the world again.
“This is about learning to be in the world without relying on a wheelchair or oxygen.
For Tammy, the more weight she lost, the more of her life she regained.
Sherie L. Seff, LCSW-R
“Tammy can start thinking about how to travel in ways she might never have imagined, which is the hopeful side of this.
“One of the things that the obesity did in Tammy’s case was render her wheelchair-bound or homebound because she could not move.
“For Tammy, the more weight she lost, the more of her life she regained.
“She got that taste of being in the world, which can be very intoxicating.
“Tammy is learning to be in the world differently, so her happiness is there now.”
Tammy and Amy shot to fame in 2020, appearing on 1000-Lb. Sisters and charting their weight loss journey.
Despite making a pact to lose weight, the sisters underwent bariatric surgery at different times and had contrasting motivations.
Tammy wanted to take care of her mental and physical health. She had bariatric surgery in 2022 after stints in rehab.
By February, she weighed 300 pounds but was still 30 pounds heavier than her sister.
“It is hard for Amy to focus on herself as she’s caring for the two kids,” a source told The U.S. Sun at the time.
Amy was always the slimmer of the two sisters.
She initially weighed 406 pounds and lost 100 pounds after bariatric surgery in 2019.
Amy claimed her inspiration to lose weight surrounded becoming a mom.
BUDDY UP
According to Seff, despite becoming “eating buddies,” the sisters’ weight loss outcomes have differed.
“Amy and Tammy have always supported each other but competed,” she said.
“The sisters were happy at different times, and their post-surgery experiences differed.
“Many things were operating simultaneously, and the dynamic between the sisters occurred very early.
It has likely played out that they had also been eating buddies before surgery.
Sherie L. Seff, LCSW-R
“How they respond individually and whether they support each other will be more critical in the sibling relationship.
“It has likely played out that they had also been eating buddies before surgery.
“Even though they are sisters and share DNA, their motivations are different, and they have other challenges.
“Amy started at a lower weight, whereas Tammy was significantly heavier.”
Since Amy’s motivation centered on parenthood, Seff claimed she could have experienced “wear and tear.”
“Amy’s weight loss motivation initially was to be a mom and get pregnant,” she said.
“And so that, across the eating disorder spectrum, can get people into a recovery zone.
“Amy’s challenges after surgery will also be different than Tammy’s because being a mom involves a lot of responsibility.
“This is about emotional wear and tear for Amy.”
The Kentucky-based sisters have struggled through their fair share of personal difficulties.
Tammy, who identifies as pansexual, married Caleb Willingham while at an Ohio weight-loss facility.
She then started dating women after Caleb died and was linked to TikToker, Greg Morgan.
Tammy and Amy could consider weight loss medications that help turn down the volume.
Sherie L. Seff, LCSW-R
Amy divorced Michael Halterman in 2023. They share two kids, Gage, 3, and Gleen, 1.
Amy split from her partner, Tony Rodgers, in February and started dating a man named Kevin soon after.
BACK TO BASICS
Seff advised the sister’s to try weight loss medications to support their journey further.
“Tammy and Amy could consider weight loss medications that help turn down the volume,” she said.
“But Amy must find ways to manage stressors and the stress of being a mom.
“They also need the team protocol, the surgeon, and weight loss management and need to be in therapy.
“Amy is to go back to basics. The team protocol and the therapy part of it are essential.
She can then build on this as she starts to make other life decisions about herself and her relationship with her children.
Sherie L. Seff, LCSW-R
“This is a perfect opportunity for Amy to turn what feels so negative into something positive.
“She can then build on this as she starts to make other life decisions about herself and her relationship with her children.
“Amy needs some redirection of her choices, but the arrest may help her rethink how she wants to be in the world.
“She can think what kind of parent she wants to be.
“For Tammy, she is on her timeline, so we will see how that plays out for her.”