Chilean comedian and author Pamela Leiva has released a book titled “Volver a Nacer,” detailing her experiences with obesity and bariatric surgery.

Leiva's testimony aims to promote physical and psychological wellbeing for others facing similar health and social challenges. By sharing her personal history, she seeks to inspire a broader conversation about healing and the intersection of mental health and physical recovery.

During an appearance on TVN Chile’s morning program “El medio día,” Leiva discussed the emotional toll of her weight struggle. She said, "Sentía que la obesidad era una cárcel" [1].

Leiva first announced her intention to write the book during a television appearance in 2026 [2]. The project serves as a reflection on her life's challenges and the pivotal moment she sought medical intervention to change her health trajectory.

Addressing the impact of her medical procedure, Leiva noted that the bariatric surgery marked a significant turning point in her life. She said, "La cirugía bariátrica marcó un antes y un después en mi vida" [1]. This procedure took place 17 years ago [3].

The book focuses on the concept of rebirth, emphasizing that the journey to health is not merely about weight loss, but about a total personal transformation. Leiva used the platform of the Santiago-based TVN studios to highlight that the process of recovery requires both medical support and psychological strength.

By documenting her path, Leiva provides a public record of the long-term maintenance required after bariatric surgery. Her narrative connects the physical act of surgery to the emotional necessity of shedding the mental burdens associated with chronic obesity.

“"Sentía que la obesidad era una cárcel"”

Leiva's public testimony highlights the long-term psychological impact of obesity and the role of bariatric surgery as a tool for systemic life change. By framing her experience as a 'prison' and a 'rebirth,' she emphasizes that medical interventions for weight loss are often intertwined with a need for mental health recovery and social reintegration.