Shed stones with celebs
CELEBRITIES Vanessa Feltz, Fern Britton and Jenni Murray have each shed stones after having weight loss surgery to limit how much they can eat.
But who is this more dramatic solution best suited to and how does it work?
Weight loss, or bariatric, surgery is usually recommended for those who have tried hard but had little success with dieting and exercise.
They might need to lose weight because of health problems associated with obesity — such as diabetes, high blood pressure, raised blood cholesterol, heart attacks and arthritis.
After surgery, patients on average lose a half to two-thirds of their initial excess weight by the end of one year.
But they do need to be committed to a specific restricted diet, an exercise plan and to making significant lifestyle changes after their op.
There are two types of weight loss surgery. Restrictive surgery works by restricting the size of the stomach, usually with a gastric band. The smaller the stomach, the less a patient can eat, resulting in weight reduction.
Malabsorptive/restrictive surgery is more invasive and restricts the size of the stomach. It also removes or bypasses parts of the digestive tract, making it harder for the bodybd tot absorbb b calories.l i The most common type is a gastric bypass.
If you’re thinking of weight loss surgery, it is very important to choose the right surgeon and hospital.
Check that a surgeon is fully trained and qualified in bariatric surgery and upper gastrointestinal surgery.
It is best if they are in reasonably easy reach, to sort out any post-surgery issues if they arise and for band adjustments.
And do ensure that your surgeon has a multidisciplinary team, including bariatric nurses and nutritionists who can support you afterwards.
In fact, support is the one part of the weight loss surgery journey that truly does make a difference to the end goal.