Struggling with weight loss? Kyra Williams found lasting success with endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), losing 110 pounds and transforming her health—discover her inspiring journey!
(BPT) - Kyra Williams, a wife, mother of two, and English professor from Baytown, Texas, has always led an active life. However, this changed when she moved from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Texas in 11th grade. The transition left her feeling down and caused her to stop activities like dance and cheerleading that she once enjoyed.
"The first time I tried to diet was that same year, when I was hoping to fit into a dress for my school's homecoming dance," Kyra recalled. "It didn't work because I was so inactive. That's when I thought, I need to lose weight." This marked the beginning of years of dieting and exercising that yielded few lasting results, leaving her feeling disappointed and constantly hungry.
During college, Kyra gained about 50 pounds. Throughout adulthood, she cycled through numerous fad diets and workouts, experiencing periods of weight loss followed by regain. After giving birth to her son and daughter, she struggled even more to lose the weight gained during pregnancy.
It was around this time that Kyra started exploring options beyond traditional diet and exercise. Not interested in bariatric surgery, she spent seven years researching alternatives to address her weight loss challenges.
Kyra is not alone in this struggle. Forty-two percent of American adults live with obesity, a complex condition that can lead to health complications such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.¹ The FDA approval of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss has helped shift the conversation around obesity, recognizing it as a medical condition rather than just an issue of willpower.
"It's not that I ate horribly, I would just eat too much, and I felt like I was always hungry," Kyra explained. "So, the idea of limiting my stomach capacity was very appealing."
While researching online, Kyra discovered endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), a minimally invasive alternative to traditional bariatric surgery. Unlike traditional procedures, ESG is an incisionless, endoscopic procedure that does not leave scars. Clinical studies show that patients typically resume normal activities within a few days.²
After consulting her doctor, Kyra decided to proceed with ESG in August 2020. Her procedure utilized the OverStitch™ Endoscopic Suturing System, a small suturing device attached to a camera that is inserted through the mouth while the patient is asleep. A trained physician sutures the stomach into a smaller shape, reducing its capacity by 70-80%. This helps patients eat less and feel full faster, supporting significant, lasting weight loss when combined with diet and lifestyle changes.²
Kyra returned home the same day. By maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen, she lost 110 pounds in her first year.* "I made up my mind that ESG was going to work for me, and I was going to do everything possible to get the results I wanted," she said. "I can still eat what I want, but I exercise and am mindful of what I eat. When I eat too much now, I feel a tightness in my stomach that reminds me not to fall back into old habits."
Four years later, Kyra has successfully maintained her weight loss. "One of the most important lessons I've learned through this journey is that you have to be willing to assess and adjust based on your evolving lifestyle," she shared. "Balancing the needs of my two teenage children along with my own can be a challenge. Since my procedure, I have been able to maintain a routine when it comes to my diet and model healthy habits to my children."
Though exercise remains her biggest challenge, Kyra stays motivated with activities like step aerobics, walking, weightlifting, and indoor cycling.
"I didn't realize how bad I felt until I started to feel better," Kyra said. "By losing weight and changing my diet and exercise routines, my energy levels are way up, and I have much more stamina than before. ESG has been, hands-down, the best decision I've ever made for my health."
Kyra now shares her experiences with others considering ESG. "Losing weight—even with ESG—is both a physical and mental battle. Even though it's hard, try not to compare yourself to others and their successes—focus on you and your own personal journey."
To learn more about ESG or to speak with a doctor in your area, visit ApolloEndoSurgery.com. Stay tuned for updates and in-depth coverage of your favorite celebrities and entertainment news! Create a free membership account with us today!
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*This patient testimonial is sponsored by Boston Scientific. Individual results may vary. In a randomized study, patients with class 1 or class 2 obesity (BMI 30 to 40 kg/m²) who underwent ESG with prescribed diet and exercise counseling lost an average of 13.6% total body weight at year one, compared to 0.8% with lifestyle modification alone. In that study, 64.7% of ESG patients with lifestyle changes lost at least 10% total body weight, compared to 4.5% with lifestyle modification alone. About 21.2% of patients lost more than 20% of their body weight. Optimal results require long-term lifestyle changes. All procedures have risks; patients should consult their doctor about potential benefits and risks.
References:
"Fast Facts: Health and Economic Costs of Chronic Conditions," The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2024.
Abu Dayyeh, BK, et al., "Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty for Treatment of Class 1 and 2 Obesity (MERIT): A Prospective, Multicentre, Randomised Trial," The Lancet, July 2022.
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