Suvechha Sarkar
Yolanda Mitchell stepped into the spotlight in season 2, episode 3 of TLC’s ‘Dangerously Obese.’ Growing up, she had always loved food, which served as a source of comfort for her. By the time she graduated from high school, she already weighed 160 lbs. In her adulthood, something unexpected happened when she started posting on social media, and people began to admire her. She revealed that several men even paid her to eat on camera. However, it caused her weight to rise. In 2015, a severe fall left her with permanent mobility issues, limiting her ability to stand or walk. Since her three younger daughters helped her with daily chores, she refused to let her struggles steal their childhood. Wanting to remain present in their lives for many years to come, she finally made a brave decision to seek professional help.
Despite Cheat Days, Yolanda Proved She Was Ready for Weight Loss Surgery
In the beginning, Yolanda Mitchell could barely stand or walk for more than a few minutes. She always took her wheelchair with her because there were some moments when her body couldn’t keep up anymore. During her first appointment at Dr. Charles Procter’s clinic, she became worried when she discovered that she weighed 502.2 lbs. He warned her that if she didn’t change soon, her body could begin to break down. The doctor gave her a goal to lose 40 lbs within two months. Alongside that, Yolanda was instructed to meet with a psychologist and a nutritionist, providing her with the team she needed to rebuild her life. During the first month, she often gave in to her cravings.
It wasn’t until Yolanda sat down with her therapist that she accepted that she didn’t want to be a burden on her daughters. By the time of her next appointment, she had surpassed her goal, weighing 460.8 lbs. With her progress, she was approved for weight loss surgery. However, on the day of the procedure, Dr. Procter discovered that Yolanda had food in her stomach. It could complicate the situation, but thankfully, the surgery was completed without any issues. Just 11 months after the operation, she dropped her weight to 338 lbs, but setbacks soon followed. Seven months later, Yolanda regained 33 lbs, but she continued to give her best effort to stay on track.
Yolanda Has Kept Information About Her Professional Life Under Wraps Today
Yolanda approached her early life with determination and eventually graduated from high school. However, her growing weight stopped her from taking the desired steps towards her career. She had revealed that in the early days, she began posting pictures and videos of herself online. It was during that time that she unexpectedly gained around 200K followers who were fascinated by her eating videos. According to her, some of them even took it further, as one of the men had even paid her $200 to watch her eat. Although she found the attention thrilling for a while, she soon realized that it was contributing to her growing weight and holding her back from the life she had imagined for herself. It now appears that Yolanda no longer maintains the social media account she mentioned.
By the end of her episode, Yolanda had sadly gained 33 lbs, but her followers have remained steadfast in their support for her. It further appears that her mindset of trying to lose weight has continued to prevail. She is occasionally active on Facebook and had shared in July 2025 that she was ready to get her old self back again. Aside from that, Yolanda utilizes the platform to advocate for mental health and the LGBTQ+ community. It only highlights her zeal to uplift others. In November 2025, one of the viewers had mentioned, “This is the lady that was at the McDonald’s drive-thru.” Although it may suggest that she is working in that position, Yolanda has chosen not to share any more information about her professional life.
Yolanda is Building a Future Rooted in Family, Faith, and New Beginnings
In her personal life, Yolanda has always made it clear that her family is the center of her world. She is a proud mother of five, and during her weight loss journey, her three youngest daughters, Dakota, December, and Dakari, used to live with her. Among them, Dakota is the eldest and is her most significant pillar of support. She helped Yolanda with her chores and anything her mother physically struggled to do. The reality star’s bond with her daughters is quite deep. It becomes visible during the joyful moments they often share, whether it be bowling together or simply laughing through an ordinary day.
All three of Yolanda’s daughters were her biggest cheerleaders during her weight loss journey. They even stopped their mother from snacking during her cheat days. On the show, Yolanda revealed that she had been previously married. Although she and her ex-husband eventually parted ways, they have remained friends. Around the time she started losing weight, the reality star decided to begin dating again. Although her first match didn’t work out, fate had other plans. It wasn’t long before Yolanda found her forever in Kevin. They had clicked instantly, and she credited him for much of her motivation to lose weight.
By the end of the show, Kevin finally popped the question, to which Yolanda joyfully said, “Yes.” He expressed his profound love for her and his desire to build a future together. As of writing, she has been married since September 6, 2024. Although she has not explicitly confirmed whether her husband is Kevin, we hope that they have continued to build a life side by side. Through it all, Yolanda has stayed close to her mother, Liz, and father, Willie, who support her tirelessly. They also celebrated her transformation with pride. Besides that, Yolanda frequently shares messages of faith on Facebook, which highlights that she has chosen it to guide her through life’s challenges.
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