Ukrainian comedian Vladimir Zhoglo, known for the show "Varyativy," spoke candidly about a decision that, in his words, radically changed his life. In a new episode of the project "Kazhut! Bresht?" (Styler), he admitted that in order to be able to stay close to his child, he agreed to bariatric surgery, for which he had to borrow money. The comedian's story is not just about weight loss; it is about how chronic health problems and fear for his family forced him to overcome a psychological barrier and spend a large sum on his own treatment.

When Dieting Stopped Working

According to Zhoglo, his wife Irina repeatedly suggested they work on losing weight together, but attempts to go on a diet did not yield lasting results. She explained that after work her husband might drink, making it extremely difficult to stick to restrictions. Over time, the excess weight led to serious health problems: the comedian could no longer exercise properly, his blood pressure rose, his blood sugar levels worsened, and wounds began to appear on his legs. It was then that Irina insisted he see a doctor and agree to bariatric surgery.

Sleep Apnea and Living Apart from the Family

Particular concern in the family was caused by sleep apnea. Due to loud snoring and breathing disturbances, Vladimir slept separately from his wife and child for about a year. Zhoglo recalled that his condition also affected his son's sleep, and the boy was later diagnosed with autism. "It was heavily influenced by the fact that the child woke up very often. This wasn't a man's snoring. This was a bear caught in a trap," the comedian said, explaining that with excess weight, insufficient oxygen was reaching his brain. Irina admitted she was afraid for her husband: he could sleep with blue lips and literally gasp for air. "When you weigh 164 kilograms at a height of 174 centimeters, you don't sleep lying down, you sleep sitting up," Zhoglo noted.

Fear for the Family and a Price of $4,000

What ultimately pushed him to the decision was not only his own health situation but also the fear of leaving his wife with the child. Zhoglo recounted that at some point Irina said: "Vlad, what if you die, and I'm left alone with a special child and I'm not working?" At the same time, the comedian admitted that he had long postponed the surgery because of a psychological barrier related to spending money on himself. The procedure cost $4,000 at the time, and for him this was a significant sum, which he borrowed. "I took on work because I was borrowing money, I needed to pay it back," he explained, adding that people who laugh at this sum are "deeply mistaken," assuming he has such money "just in his pocket."

Contradictory Data

During fact-checking, a discrepancy was found in the key figure — the amount of weight lost. The headline of the Styler article states that Zhoglo lost 65 kg, while the publication Obozrevatel reports a loss of 54 kg and clarifies that after the surgery he was left with only about 20% of his stomach. Both sources cite the comedian's own words, however, the exact figures in the public publications differ. Zhoglo himself, in the interview both publications refer to, emphasized the cost of the surgery ($4,000) and the recovery process, rather than the final weight, so the discrepancy in kilograms could not yet be definitively reconciled with the original statement.

Recovery and an Unexpected Drop in Energy

Zhoglo said that he was already home the day after the surgery, and for the first period he could only eat liquid food, gradually recovering. He returned to work on the 26th day after the procedure. By that time he already felt significantly better, but he faced an unexpected problem: despite the rapid weight loss, he had less energy than before the surgery. According to the comedian, his body simply needed time to adapt to the changes. Previously, Styler also reported on how the winner of the show "Zvazheni ta Shchaslyvi" nearly died at the hands of his own brother, which makes Zhoglo's story part of a broader context of his personal life.