Zach Strenkert appeared on The Jerry Springer Show in 1996 as a 70-pound infant, a segment that has recently resurfaced online. Many current viewers were not yet born during the show’s original broadcast.
Now 29, Zach lives with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS), a rare genetic condition. As an infant, this caused him to gain 2.5 pounds every two weeks, reaching 70 pounds by 17 months old.
His story is revisited in the new Netflix documentary, Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera Action. Zach recalls feeling like a “circus act” due to multiple TV appearances, including on Oprah and Inside Edition.
He told The Mirror the coverage made him feel different, further isolating him as the “TV kid.” Zach clarifies his family’s motivation was not fame or money, but to seek medical help and raise awareness for SGBS.
He notes the financial return was minimal, with the goal strictly being his health. Regarding the documentary, Zach feels it offers no new information, just repackaged content with “bells and whistles.”
Today, Zach focuses on his physical well-being, having previously weighed 485 pounds. The Jerry Springer Show aired for 27 years until 2018.
Host Jerry Springer died in 2023 from pancreatic cancer. A family spokesperson said he was “irreplaceable,” remembered for his ability to connect with people.
