Billy Gardell weight loss followed bariatric surgery, which he has described as an act of “desperation”. Reports say he lost about 150 pounds (TVLine, 2023) or 170 pounds (Fox News, 2025) from a peak near 370. He says his type 2 diabetes is gone. That is best read as remission, which needs ongoing checks and is not a cure.
Older pages, including earlier versions of this one, gave conflicting accounts of surgery, weight and diabetes. This page uses his own dated statements and explains why the figures differ.
Billy Gardell weight loss: what he has said
| Source and date | Surgery | Pounds lost | Weight now | Diabetes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVLine, 18 April 2023 | Gastric bypass in July 2022, after twice considering and backing out | About 150 from his Mike and Molly peak (about 370) | “Float between 205 and 210” | Says he no longer has type 2 diabetes. Resting heart rate fell from 113 to 68. |
| Fox News, 14 December 2025 | Bariatric surgery in 2021, called “desperation” | 170 | Between 210 and 215, “comfortable for me” | “My diabetes is gone” |
He has linked the change to his son. TVLine quotes him saying, “I feel like I wasn’t a good example of health for him.” He also told Fox, “Food is fuel. It’s not reward, it’s not soothing, it’s not medication.”
Why the numbers and dates differ
Three things explain the gap between 150 and 170 pounds. First, the interviews are 32 months apart. Second, his weight “floats” within a range, so the total shifts by a few pounds. Third, outlets measure from different starting points. Both reports place his peak near 370 pounds, and 370 minus 205 is about 165.
The surgery year differs too. TVLine gives July 2022, and Fox gives 2021. We cannot tell which is right from public sources, so we show both.
What “my diabetes is gone” means
International experts define type 2 diabetes remission as an HbA1c below 6.5% for at least three months, without the usual glucose-lowering medicine. The American Diabetes Association summary says continued follow-up with the healthcare team is warranted, with testing at least yearly. It also notes a lot of uncertainty about how long remission lasts and what predicts relapse.
So “gone” is a fair everyday phrase for his results, but remission is not a guarantee. People who reach it still need regular checks of blood sugar and complications.
Bariatric surgery: what to know first
- Gastric bypass is major surgery with risks, so it needs a specialist assessment.
- After bypass, people usually need lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements and regular blood tests, as UK NHS trust advice for bypass patients states.
- Eligibility rules differ. UK services and US insurers use different criteria, so ask your own clinic.
- If you take diabetes medicine, never stop it yourself. Your team adjusts it as your weight and results change.
What is supported, overstated or not supported
| Claim you may see | Where it stands |
|---|---|
| He had bariatric surgery | Supported. He has described it in interviews. |
| He lost no weight through surgery, only diet and exercise | Not supported. It contradicts his own account. |
| He had gastric bypass in 2010 | Not supported. His interviews place it in 2021 or 2022. |
| He lost about 70 pounds from 350 | Outdated. Later interviews report 150 to 170. |
| He weighs exactly 206 pounds | Overstated. He describes a range, and the figure and its metric conversion do not match. |
| His diabetes is cured | Overstated. Remission is the correct term, and it needs follow-up. |
| He was diagnosed with an A1C of 7.2% in 2017 | Not supported. We found no source, and Fox links his diagnosis to around 2020. |
Billy Gardell on video
Frequently asked questions
TVLine reported about 150 pounds in 2023 and Fox News reported 170 pounds in 2025. Both start from a peak near 370 pounds.
Yes. He has described bariatric surgery, with TVLine reporting gastric bypass in July 2022 and Fox News giving 2021.
In 2023 he said he floats between 205 and 210 pounds. In 2025 he gave 210 to 215. He describes a range, not one number.
He says his type 2 diabetes is gone. Experts call that remission, defined as an HbA1c below 6.5% for at least three months without usual medicine.
No. Remission can last or relapse, and follow-up with a healthcare team is advised, with testing at least yearly.
He has pointed to his health and his son, saying he did not feel he was a good example of health for him.
No. It is major surgery with risks and lifelong follow-up. Eligibility rules differ between countries and insurers, so ask a specialist.
Never stop it on your own. Your care team changes doses as your weight and blood sugar results change.
Related reading
- Gabriel Iglesias weight loss: what he has said, with dates
- How to maintain weight loss after reaching your goal
- Sustainable weight loss: habits that hold
- 30+ celebrity weight loss transformations
Sources
- TVLine: Billy Gardell talks 150 lb weight loss (18 April 2023)
- Fox News: Mike and Molly star calls food his poison pills (14 December 2025)
- American Diabetes Association: international experts outline diabetes remission criteria
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not diagnose any person. Talk to your doctor, diabetes team or a bariatric specialist before surgery or any change to medicine. Last reviewed and rewritten October 2026.
