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Billy Gardell: Surgery Saved Me From Food 'Medication'
14 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Actor Billy Gardell lost 170 pounds after life-saving bariatric surgery in 2021.
- He previously used food to cope with emotions, calling it a 'poison pill'.
- His diabetes is gone, and he feels strong and energized post-surgery.
Actor Billy Gardell recently shared his transformative journey, detailing how he shed an impressive 170 pounds after undergoing bariatric surgery in 2021. Gardell, who previously weighed 370 pounds, explained that he had long used food as a coping mechanism for both negative emotions and positive celebrations, describing this relationship as a 'poison pill.'
By 2020, his health had deteriorated to the point where he had developed type 2 diabetes and numerous other high-risk conditions, including sleep apnea and asthma. The escalating health concerns, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, served as a critical wake-up call, prompting him to seek a drastic change.
Gardell's surgery initiated a profound reevaluation of his relationship with food, viewing it purely as fuel rather than a reward or comfort. Today, maintaining a weight between 210 and 215 pounds, he reports his type 2 diabetes is gone, and he experiences renewed energy and strength, emphasizing that his weight loss was life-saving.
