Mujeeb Siddiqui, DO, FACOS, FASMBS, DABOM

For much of her life, Angel Smith struggled with her weight. After having children, her weight gradually increased to the point that it began affecting nearly every aspect of her daily life. Working at Country Kitchen for 24 years meant long hours on her feet in a physically demanding job. By the end of the day, she was exhausted, her feet would swell and hurt so badly she could barely walk. Any physical activity, like climbing stairs, left her short of breath.

For as long as he can remember, Andre Nixon of LaBelle, Missouri, struggled with his weight. At just 28 years old, weighing 415 pounds, Andre was terrified of following in his father’s footsteps. His dad passed away at only 36 years old from complications of high blood pressure and kidney disease. Andre was already battling high blood pressure himself, along with sleep apnea. “My snoring was pretty bad; it sounded like a train,” Andre joked. “My poor grandmother had to crank the TV up just to drown it out.”

Shelbie Metcalf, of Bucklin Missouri, had tried various weight loss methods under her healthcare provider's supervision, but nothing worked. “I had been injured during my time in the military, and the combination of weight gain caused severe lymphedema in my legs,” Shelbie recalls. “When I could no longer lift my right foot, I knew I had to do something.” Her physical challenges were compounded by the emotional toll of feeling unable to be the mom she wanted to be. “I had no energy, couldn’t sleep, and felt myself sinking deeper into depression,” she said.