LOS ANGELES - Comedian-actor Billy Gardell is opening up about a dramatic transformation - shedding about 170 pounds after years of health struggles, including a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, sleep apnea and other ailments that peaked during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Gardell said he was at one of his heaviest points - around 370-380 pounds - in 2020, when the pandemic prompted him to re-evaluate his health. “When the first wave hit … they punched up that list of high‑risk conditions,” he recalled. “I had all of them: overweight, sleep apnea, smoker, type 2 diabetes, asthma.” That confluence of risk factors motivated what he called a life-saving decision.

On July 17, 2021, Gardell underwent bariatric surgery , a turning point that began his journey. But surgery was only the start - he nee

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