Effects of rare genetic condition ‘70lb’ Jerry Springer Show baby had after it was revealed what he looks like now
Zach Strenkert's 1996 appearance as a toddler on The Jerry Springer Show still gets watched by people who weren't even born.
Back when most people didn't even own a computer, let alone knew how to send an email, the world was a much simpler place.
Aged one at the time, I would know.
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But it's clear that TV was most the popular choice of entertainment, and over in the US, The Jerry Springer Show was the one of the most-viewed daytime talkshows of its time.
Zach went on the show as a toddler and was known as the ‘70 pound’ baby.
He suffered from a condition called Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS), which caused him grow an inch and gain 2.5lb every couple of weeks.
What is SGBS?
The rare genetic condition causes overgrowth syndrome, which means that 'infants are considerably larger than normal at birth and continue to grow and gain weight at an unusual rate', according to MedlinePlus.
Those with SGBS often have distinctive facial features, such as a broad nose, large mouth, and wide-set eyes.
They can also develop skeletal abnormalities, heart defects, and an increased risk of certain tumours.
Where is Zack now?
Zach, 29, who grew up in Port Jervis, New York, said he 'felt like a circus act' after appearing on other shows like Oprah and Inside Edition.
"They presented me as different, which only separated me further from everyone else," he told The Mirror. "I was known as the kid that was on TV.
"Nowadays, people ask me what it was like. They assume my mom was chasing fame or money, but that wasn’t the case." he continued to say. "We just wanted help with geneticists, which wasn’t easy to come by with our insurance."
Zach said his family wanted to raise awareness on what it was like to live with SGBS, adding: "We didn’t really get a lot of take-home pay after all the affairs were done. It was strictly to make sure that her kid was okay."
On the recent release of Netflix documentary Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera Action, he admitted: "It's just a spin on what’s already out there. It didn’t reveal anything new. It’s the same content, just packaged with bells and whistles."
Jerry Springer - who hosted The Jerry Springer Show for 27 years - passed away at his home in Chicago in 2023.
"Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word." said family spokesperson, Jene Galvin, at the time, who also confirmed he'd died from pancreatic cancer.
"He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on."
Anish Vij