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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPolk County resident Kimberly Reynardo Williams says she lost 90 pounds after getting weight loss surgery at AdventHealth Heart of Florida. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Reynardo Williams<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kimberly Reynardo Williams, a 42-year-old mother of three from Auburndale, says she struggled with her weight for 15 years. She said she worked with doctors to try to come up with a plan to lose weight using different weight loss options including different diets and weight loss pills, but they were not successful, leaving her frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was tired of the way I was feeling. I was constantly tired. I was constantly dealing with aches and pains in my back and my knees,\u201d Reynardo Williams said. \u201cI was to the point I was depressed, I was on depression medication, and I knew the primary reason I was depressed was because of my own weight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reynardo Williams said her sister getting weight loss surgery led her to get a consult with Dr. Shiva Seetahal of AdventHealth Medical Group Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery in Davenport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just wanted to be healthier and happier,\u201d Reynardo Williams said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In early December 2023, she underwent weight loss surgery at AdventHealth Heart of Florida in Davenport and said she has lost 90 pounds so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was one of the best decisions I\u2019ve made in my life,\u201d Reynardo Williams said. \u201cI just feel so much happier. I have so much more energy. My family sees the change in me. My husband tells me all the time, \u2018you\u2019re just a happier person, you\u2019re always happy, you\u2019re smiling.\u2019 It\u2019s made a big impact; I just want to do more. I don\u2019t want to be a couch potato anymore; I just have the energy to do so many things now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers say metabolic\/bariatric surgery is the most effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity resulting in significant weight loss and the improvement, prevention, or resolution of many related diseases. Studies also show bariatric surgery may reduce a patient\u2019s risk of premature death by 30-50 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AdventHealth Heart of Florida\u2019s Bariatric program recently achieved reaccreditation by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program\u00ae. To earn this prestigious designation, AdventHealth met stringent criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are honored to uphold the strict standards set by MBSAQIP and look forward to continuing to serve our patients with the highest level of care and expertise,\u201d said AdventHealth Polk Market President and CEO Tim Clark. \u201cThank you to our dedicated team for their hard work and commitment to delivering exceptional, whole person care to our patients. Together, we will continue to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reynardo Williams says if you are not sure about whether weight loss surgery could be right for you, it is worth it to talk about your options with a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re struggling with weight loss, it\u2019s worth it to just go for the consult. A consult is not going to hurt anybody, and you can always say \u2018no, it\u2019s not for me,\u2019 but I would 100 percent always recommend to anyone to go for the consult and see what it\u2019s about because it will change your life,\u201d Reynardo Williams said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n