Buddy Shuh was born on an Army base in Landstuhl, Germany and raised in Michigan, Ohio and Florida with his four siblings. In high school, Buddy was captain of both his football and wrestling teams and was voted "most athletic" his senior year. While attending Ohio State University, he played football for a while, and he later received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Eastern Michigan University. When Buddy stopped playing sports, he stopped exercising, and that, coupled with a poor diet, led to his weight gain. By 2005, he hit the 300-pound mark, the same year he learned that the daughter his wife was carrying had critical health issues and might not live long enough to be born. She was born in 2005 and lived for five-and-a-half months before passing away. Since that time, Buddy has gained another 100 pounds. Now 42 years old and 403 pounds, Buddy and his wife are the parents of four other children. He suffers from high blood pressure and sleep apnea, and he is ready to change his life. Eager to lead by example, Buddy looks forward to playing sports again and shopping at regular clothing stores after he loses the weight.