47-year-old Milla Clark loves kids. But she loves food more. The five children she wanted so badly must play caregiver to their mother in her morbid obesity. Her husband Elroy is ashamed of enabling his wife but also angry that she's killing herself with food.

As bad as that is, the story gets worse. Will bariatric surgery and weight loss on "My 600-lb Life" help Milla quit being a burden and start being a parent?

Milla Clark shows Jekyll and Hyde nature of obesity

In her soft voice, Clark candidly discusses her obesity. Unlike the many self-pitying patients on "My 600-lb Life" Milla blames no one but herself. But the loving mother can also be tyrant if she doesn't get her way. Milla admits to Dr. Younan Nowzaradan that she bullies her children to feed her food addiction. Because, as she succinctly explains, Milla lives for food. The reality television celebrity defines how childhood habits and dysfunctional parenting keep the cycle of obesity on repeat.

Food surrogate parents and cripples parenting

Milla's food relationship was established early by her unloving mom who used food as a surrogate parent.

Milla found comfort, friendship and nurturing in her eating disorder.

But overeating was crippling her too. "My 600-lb Life" shows that Milla's children love their mother so much that they slavishly cater to her. In the family cycle of addiction, the kids learned unhealthy behavior from their mother who learned it from hers. But husband Elroy sees the dysfunction and hopes gastric bypass surgery on the TLC show can fix it.

Beloved husband becomes healthy enabler

Elroy Clark admits with chagrin to "My 600-lb Life" viewers that he and his children enable his morbidly obese wife. He doesn't blame the kids because they are obeying their mother. His love doesn't blind him to Milla's hold over them.

Elroy is disabled by a heart condition and fears that his spouse will eat herself to death.

So the family goes on a perilous (for Milla) journey to Houston. Reality TV surgeon Dr. Now feels that he can perform bariatric surgery on the 700-lb woman if she will lose weight. And her husband is fully on board.

Obesity kills hopes, weight loss rebuilds it

Obesity has stolen many things from Milla Clark. She was unable to have more children because she was too overweight to carry a pregnancy. The family she built by adoption now cares for her. Her extra 550 pounds have robbed her of joy, self-respect, self-control and health.

They're killing her with lymphedema and skin infections. Diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure lurk. Milla was able to shed 100 pounds with Dr. Now's high protein, low-carb, zero fruit diet and her can-do spirit. Even through unbearable grief of losing her husband, Milla powered on. Her healthier life is Elroy's legacy.