Obesity & Chronic Disease

In this inspiring episode of BWell Saginaw Healthier Me with Alexandria Rene, we sit down with Jessica Larsen, a Saginaw County working mom who has spent decades battling weight-related health challenges, including PCOS and fertility struggles. Jessica shares her raw and deeply personal story of finding hope through bariatric surgery, and shedding over 100 pounds—not just of weight, but of fear and self-doubt.

Hosted by Alexandria Rene, “Beyond the Hoodie” dives deep into the inspiring story of 19-year-old Lionel Baldwin, who was bullied for his weight from the age of six—before he even realized he was “fat.” Despite being one of the biggest kids in his class, Lionel found ways to cope, excelling in sports, academics, and social circles. Now a sophomore at the University of Michigan, he opens up about his transformation—from never taking off his hoodie to embracing a healthier lifestyle and a bright future. Tune in for a raw, honest conversation about resilience, self-acceptance, and the power of personal growth.

Wife and mother of three, Theresa struggled with body image and her weight for years. She tried numerous fad diets and nothing worked. In this episode, she shares the one thing she did to finally release the weight and regain her confidence!

As someone who has always been athletic and strong, Abraham has undergone multiple surgeries — including being in an induced coma — yet somehow, he finds his way back to doing what he loves. And that’s training others in their health journey.

Coming from a family of 10 children, Jase was not brought up in your typical home life. At a young age, she entered the foster care system where her body took on a series of overwhelming illnesses. From being underweight, to drinking nutritional shakes and being on mental health medications since she was 9 – Jase’s health transitioned to being overweight reaching almost 500 pounds. After undergoing a health operation in 2023– she has lost over 250 pounds and is on a journey to keep it off.

After a troubling relationship, Mariette MacArthur decided to act and work towards healing. The mom of two beautiful daughters — she transformed her mind, body and her spirit after making one decision.

Growing up, Austin experienced disordered eating – tracking everything he ate from the number of M&Ms to every French fry. With the help of college-based training, paired with his wife and friends, Austin has redefined what health means to him.

While most of her life is dedicated to empowering youth and raising two sons — Arshen Baldwin battled with her mental and physical health for over a decade. After hitting a depressive time in her life, she reached out to the people around her, found a village and lost close to 100 pounds.

Anthony Brown’s health journey began in middle school when he started doing push-ups every other night. He then lifted his first set of weights in high school and has never looked back. Over the years, Anthony’s transformation has been fueled by intense discipline, until a devastating moment triggered a newfound passion that resulted in bodybuilding.

Elisa Urtiaga-Medina discusses how practicing yoga led her on a path to help influence lives. From Chicago, South America, Baltimore and now Saginaw…Elisa’s health journey began when she was just 17 years old looking for a way to manage her chronic stress. Over the years, this mindfulness practice has led her to create her own business called Prem Yoga & Wellness and work as a community activist.

From a young age, Rwaida recognized the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle. However, a challenging moment in her early 20s prompted her to prioritize health and nutrition. Since then, Rwaida’s journey has led her to embrace self-accountability and create a welcoming space for others to discover their joy and strength.

Growing up in a family that emphasized healthy eating and physical activity, Dr. Allen developed a deep passion for prevention, which sparked her interest in weight loss as a physician. She observed that many of her patients had medical conditions related to obesity but lacked the necessary tools to lose weight. Dr. Allen shares how she is empowering not only her patients but also the Saginaw community to effectively manage weight.