Amber Rachdi’s journey from weighing 657 pounds to reclaiming her life is a powerful story of determination, resilience, and healing. Growing up in Troutdale, Oregon, Amber faced obesity and anxiety from a very young age. By the age of five, she weighed more than 150 pounds, and her weight continued to increase rapidly throughout her childhood and teenage years. By 16, her mobility was so limited that she had to use a motorized scooter to move around, and by 23, she was largely homebound, unable to stand for more than 30 minutes, unable to drive, and struggling with basic self-care like bathing.
Amber’s struggles were not just physical but deeply emotional. An untreated anxiety disorder fueled binge eating, creating a vicious cycle that made losing weight seem impossible. Realizing she could no longer live under these conditions, Amber made a courageous decision to seek help. She appeared on TLC’s My 600-lb Life, where she connected with Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a bariatric surgeon known for helping patients with severe obesity.
To pursue surgery, Amber and her family relocated from Oregon to Houston, Texas, so she could be closer to Dr. Nowzaradan. Her first challenge was to lose 20 pounds to qualify for gastric bypass surgery—a goal she approached with determination. She worked hard to reduce her calorie intake and increase physical activity, knowing that the surgery was a tool, not a cure. It was a starting point that would give her time to develop healthier habits and tackle the emotional issues at the root of her struggles.
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