Fitness YouTuber and cancer research scientist Stephanie Buttermore has died unexpectedly at age 36, her fiancé and partner of 10 years Jeff Nippard announced Friday, March 6. She was 36 years old. — stephanie_buttermore Instagram
Fitness YouTuber and cancer research scientist Stephanie Buttermore has died unexpectedly at age 36, her fiancé and partner of 10 years Jeff Nippard announced Friday, March 6. She was 36 years old.
“As many of you know, Stephanie meant the world to Jeff. She will be remembered for her warmth and compassion, her love for her family, and her PhD research on ovarian cancer.” The cause of death was not immediately made public.
Buttermore built a large following online through YouTube and Instagram by combining her scientific background with fitness content. The former competitive bodybuilder initially became widely known for viral 10,000-calorie challenge videos and bodybuilding-related content.
She later opened up to followers about struggles with food and body image, ultimately documenting a major shift in her approach to health through what she called her “all in” journey.
“I am going all in. What this basically means is I’m going to be eating a minimum of 2,500 calories a day, every single day,” she said in one video explaining the decision.
The change came after she lost her menstrual cycle and followed a doctor’s recommendation to prioritize recovery and nutrition. Buttermore told followers she was giving herself “unconditional permission to eat” in an effort to repair her relationship with food and stop the cycle of restrictive dieting.
Over the following years, she documented the experience online with unusual transparency, sharing both the physical and emotional changes that came with the process. In a later update, she said she had gained about 40 pounds during the journey and spoke candidly about body image.
“Instead of being a fitness influencer, I just became Stephanie, a person you could relate to,” she said in the video, noting that she no longer wanted to pursue the extreme leanness that defined her earlier bodybuilding career.
“Body positive doesn’t always come easy to me but I’ve learned to accept my body,” she said.
Buttermore has not posted a YouTube video in nearly two years, and in May 2024 she announced she would be taking a break from Instagram.
News of her death spread quickly through the fitness community, with thousands of followers leaving messages of support and tributes on both her Instagram page and Nippard’s.
The statement from Nippard’s team asked for privacy as loved ones process the loss.
