Strenkert’s unusual and rapid growth puzzled his family, leading them to seek medical explanations through television appearances.
“He’s not someone who eats excessively—that’s one of the main questions people ask,” his mother, Laurie, explained during a segment on *The Jerry Springer Show*. “That’s exactly why we’re worried. Where is all this growth coming from?”
Eventually, their media exposure connected Strenkert with a geneticist who diagnosed him with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects males. The condition is known for causing significant overgrowth both before and after birth, along with congenital abnormalities and a heightened risk of tumors.
Strenkert later reflected on his childhood and the attention he received. “People assume we did it for fame or money, but the reality was we were just trying to get help from genetic specialists—something our insurance wouldn’t cover,” he told *The Mirror*.
He credits Jerry Springer for making a lasting impact on his life. Not only did Springer help his family get answers, but he also stayed in touch after the cameras were off. “He truly cared,” Strenkert shared in an interview with the *Daily Mail* before the release of *Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action* on Netflix.
In 2017, Strenkert returned to the show to thank Springer in person. The host passed away in 2023.
In recent years, Strenkert has continued to face challenges tied to his condition. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, his weight soared to nearly 500 pounds. “Because of my health issues and mental struggles, I became very inactive,” he explained in a Reddit post. “I turned to gaming and got really into it.”
Eventually, his intense focus on health and fitness led him to the brink of anorexia. Looking back, he shared: “Now, I’m more balanced. I don’t obsess over every detail, but I make better choices. I still feel the same physically, but mentally, I’m in a much better place—and that means everything.”
By December 2023, he had started weightlifting at a gym and shared that his doctor was “very impressed” with his progress. “They told me I look healthier than I did at both my heaviest and thinnest,” he said.
Strenkert believes his condition plays a role in his muscle development. “I’ve only been lifting at a commercial gym since December, LOL. I’m really enjoying the transformation—I love strength training,” he said.
By October 2024, he had dropped to 361 pounds—a huge milestone in his journey. “The last time I weighed this much, I looked totally different. I’ve come a long way,” he said, adding that he never imagined he’d one day see definition in his obliques and abs.