dr now age 2026: amazing story of the My 600-lb doctor?

Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, known to television viewers as Dr Now, is one of the oldest working doctors on reality television, and fans often ask exactly how old he is. The answer is clear: dr now age is 82 in late October 2026, because he was born on October 11, 1944, in Tehran, Iran, and he turned 82 on October 11, 2026. His long life and even longer medical career are central to his fame.

Age matters in Dr Now’s story because it shapes everything about him. He qualified as a doctor in 1970, which means he has been practising medicine for more than five decades. He was already in his late sixties when My 600-lb Life first aired in 2012, and he has continued working on television and in his Houston practice well into his eighties, a longevity that defines dr now age.

This article answers the question of dr now age in full, with his birth date, his age at key moments in his career, and the story of a life that took him from Tehran to Houston and from hospital wards to television screens around the world.

Dr Now Age at a Glance

When Was Dr Now Born?

Dr Now was born on October 11, 1944, in Tehran, the capital of Iran. His birth date is recorded consistently across major biographical sources, including his Wikipedia biography and television profiles, which both give October 11, 1944, as his date of birth. There is no serious dispute about the date, unlike some reality stars whose birthdays are reported differently by different outlets.

His background is Iranian and Assyrian-American. He was born and raised in Tehran, where he completed his early education before studying medicine at the University of Tehran. That upbringing, in a country and culture far from Houston, Texas, is part of what makes his life story unusual: a boy from Tehran who became one of America’s most famous weight-loss surgeons, a journey reflected in dr now age.

Fans who want to check the ages of other stars can use the celebrity age calculator to work out exactly how old any celebrity is from their birth date. It is a quick way to settle the age questions that come up again and again in reality television.

Dr Now’s Age Through His Career

Dr Now’s age at each stage of his career tells the story of a remarkably long working life. He graduated from the University of Tehran with his medical degree in 1970, when he was 25 years old, turning 26 that October. He then moved to the United States, completed a medical orientation program at Saint Louis University in 1971, and finished a surgical internship in Detroit, the early years behind dr now age.

By the time he became widely known on television, he was already a veteran surgeon. When My 600-lb Life premiered in 2012, he was 67 years old, turning 68 that October. Most doctors of that age are thinking about retirement, but Dr Now was beginning the most famous chapter of his career, guiding patients with extreme obesity through diet plans and surgery on national television, a chapter central to dr now age.

He published his first book, Last Chance to Live, in 2017, when he was 72, and followed it with The Scale Does Not Lie, People Do in 2019, when he was 74. In 2025, at the age of 80, he fronted a new series, The 6000-lb Diaries with Dr. Now. Few television personalities start a new show at 80, and fewer still do it while maintaining a working surgical practice.

Early Life and Education

Dr Now grew up in Tehran, where he attended school and developed an interest in medicine. Iran in the 1950s and 1960s was a very different place from the Houston of his later life, and his decision to study medicine set him on a path that would eventually take him across the world. He graduated from the University of Tehran in 1970, one of the most respected universities in the region, the foundation of dr now age.

After graduation, he moved to the United States to continue his training. He took part in the Medical Orientation Program at Saint Louis University in 1971 and completed a rotating surgical internship at St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Those years of training in American hospitals shaped his surgical style and prepared him for a career in general, vascular, and later bariatric surgery.

He eventually settled in Houston, Texas, where he built his practice, Houston Obesity Surgery, and became affiliated with several local hospitals. Houston’s large medical community and its diverse population made it a fitting base for a surgeon who would go on to treat patients from all over the country.

A Medical Career Spanning Five Decades

Dr Now specialises in vascular surgery, which treats diseases of the blood vessels, and bariatric surgery, which helps people with severe obesity through operations such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. He has performed thousands of weight-loss operations and has written scholarly papers on obesity and laparoscopic techniques.

He became known for taking on high-risk patients whom other surgeons might refuse. That reputation matters because patients on My 600-lb Life often weigh 600 pounds or more and face serious health risks from surgery itself. His willingness to treat them, combined with strict pre-surgery diet requirements, became the medical backbone of the show.

His age is part of his authority with patients. When an 82-year-old surgeon who has practised for over fifty years tells a patient to follow a diet plan, the advice carries the weight of a lifetime of experience. Younger doctors may have newer training, but few can match the number of extreme cases Dr Now has handled across his career, experience that explains dr now age.

Dr Now on Television

Before My 600-lb Life, Dr Now appeared in Channel 4’s Body Shock documentary series, in episodes such as Half Ton Dad, Half Ton Teen, and Half Ton Mum. Those early appearances introduced his direct style to audiences: honest talk about eating habits, strict diet plans, and surgery only for patients who showed real commitment.

My 600-lb Life premiered on TLC in 2012 and became one of the network’s longest-running shows, with Dr Now at its centre for more than a decade. The show follows patients as they move to Houston, follow tightly controlled diets, and work toward qualifying for surgery. His catchphrases and tough-love approach became famous, but the show also documented genuine, life-changing transformations, a legacy tied to dr now age.

In 2025, he began fronting The 6000-lb Diaries with Dr. Now, a diary-format series following ten people with a combined weight of more than 6,000 pounds. Starting a new series at 80 showed his continuing energy and his commitment to patients. Fans interested in celebrity birthdays can also visit the birthday hub for more profiles.

Why Fans Ask About Dr Now’s Age

Fans ask about dr now age for several reasons. Some worry about his health and wonder how much longer he will keep working. Others are simply surprised that a man in his eighties is still performing surgery and fronting television shows. And some viewers, inspired by his energy, want to know his secret for staying active at an age when most people have long retired.

• His long career: more than fifty years in medicine is rare and naturally prompts age questions.
• His television workload: filming long-running shows at 82 is unusual and impressive.
• His energy on screen: viewers notice his sharpness and discipline and wonder how old he really is.
• Retirement talk: whenever a long-running show faces change, fans ask whether its star will step back.

Whatever the future holds, his age has never stopped him so far. He has continued to see patients, film new series, and publish books well past the age at which most surgeons retire. His story is a reminder that age alone does not define what a person can still achieve. Readers can compare celebrity fortunes with the net worth battle tool or explore more tools on the tools page.

Personal Life and Family

Dr Now was married to Delores McRedmond, and the couple had three children together before divorcing in 2004. His son, Jonathan Nowzaradan, works as a director and producer on My 600-lb Life, so the family’s connection to the show runs deep. Dr Now has generally kept his private life quiet, preferring to focus public attention on his patients and his work.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and has balanced hospital work, television filming, and writing across his later years. That combination of roles at his age is unusual, and it explains why his birthday and his age remain popular search topics year after year, keeping dr now age in the spotlight.

His Wikipedia biography confirms his birth date of October 11, 1944, his Tehran birthplace, his University of Tehran degree, and his long television career. It remains the clearest single source for the basic facts of his life and age.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Dr Now?

Dr Now is 82 years old in late October 2026. He was born on October 11, 1944, and turned 82 on October 11, 2026.

When was Dr Now born?

Dr Now was born on October 11, 1944, in Tehran, Iran. His full name is Dr. Younan Nowzaradan.

How old was Dr Now when My 600-lb Life started?

He was 67 years old when My 600-lb Life premiered in 2012, turning 68 that October. He had already been practising medicine for more than four decades by then.

Is Dr Now still working at 82?

Yes, he remains affiliated with Houston Obesity Surgery and continues to appear on television, including the newer series The 6000-lb Diaries with Dr. Now, which began when he was 80.

Where was Dr Now born?

He was born in Tehran, Iran, where he grew up and studied medicine at the University of Tehran before moving to the United States for further training.

Conclusion

Dr Now’s age of 82 in late October 2026 is more than a number: it represents over five decades of medicine, more than a decade of television, and a working life that continues to inspire patients and viewers who admire his discipline, his honesty, and his refusal to slow down.