Graham Elliot, ‘MasterChef' Judge, Undergoes Weight-Loss Surgery

Graham Elliot, the MasterChef judge who runs three renowned Chicago restaurants, underwent a sleeve gastrectomy to aid him in loosing weight.

Elliot, who at 6’2 was nearing 400 lbs, has battled with his weight throughout his life. Now, as a father to three sons – Mylo, 6, Conrad, 2, Jedediah, 10 months – Elliot is determined to win the fight. "This is what I need to do for my family,” he told People. “What's going to make me healthy is the most important thing right now so I can enjoy my kids and be around long enough to see them grow up."

The celebrity chef, in choosing his weight-loss surgery, had to be mindful of the demands of his profession. "Because of my line of work, the doctor specifically thinks this is the surgery best suited for me," he said. "With gastric bypass and other surgeries, there's some ingredients you can't eat because it will cause you to get sick. This procedure will allow me to still taste and try everything.” It would be hard to continue serving as a judge on MasterChef, or approve his menu items if he was limited in what he could test.

Speaking of MasterChef, Elliot credits his fellow judges – Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich – for motivating him to make the life-changing decision. "I get inspiration from both these guys," says Elliot. "[On the set] I've got them both talking about how they run marathons. They tell me, 'You've got to lose weight and change your life.' "

MasterChef airs Wednesdays on Fox at 8/7c.

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