Bariatric surgeryUnited Kingdom5 min read
Did Anne Diamond have a gastric band? Yes, and she talks about it openly
Anne Diamond, the broadcaster familiar to British audiences from TV-am and Loose Women, has one of the longest-running honest accounts of weight-loss surgery in British media. She had a gastric band fitted in 2005, the revelation made national front pages, and she has been discussing what the band did to her — good and bad — ever since. Here is what she has said and what bariatric surgery involves today.
By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Medically reviewed by Andrey G. Ugay, lead bariatric surgeon. Review date: .
Key facts about the procedure
- Back to work2–4 weeks
- Stay in clinic1–5 days
- Final result18–24 months
- Price
$4,800from $3,600
Profile
Anne Diamond
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Who
- British broadcaster and TV presenter
- Year of operation
- 2005
- Quote source
- Hello!, 23 April 2019
What did Anne Diamond say about her gastric band?
Anne Diamond had her first gastric band fitted in September 2005, as Digital Spy reported in February 2006, when her admission during the television programme Celebrity Fit Club made headlines and cost her her place on the show. By the time she told the story on Loose Women, the tone had changed from scandal to experience.
Bariatric Surgery Birmingham, Bariatric Surgery Dublin — price and consultation.
Price in your country — message us on WhatsApp
WhatsAppHer own account, as Hello! relayed it in April 2019, is refreshingly specific. The diets had failed: “I'd tried every diet you can imagine. Nothing worked.” So she went abroad for the operation — “I went to Belgium to have a gastric band and they didn't fit it right.” A second band, fitted in the UK, worked far better. She summed up what it gave her: “I think without it I would be the size of a house,” alongside an honest caveat: “I would never argue against surgery, but I'm just saying there are pitfalls in it that you don't even think about.”
That is what this article relies on: her quoted words in these reports. She has not publicly named her surgeons, so none of that is guessed here. Everything below describes bariatric surgery in general, not her treatment.
What her account teaches patients
Three lessons sit in her quotes. First, surgery is not the first resort but a tool for when years of diets have failed — her starting point is the one professional guidelines use to define candidacy.
More on this topic: Bariatric surgery with support all the way to your result, Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y), Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB), Bariatric Operations in Phoenix, Obesity Surgery in Singapore.
Second, where and by whom the operation is done matters: a band fitted incorrectly caused her years of trouble, which is why surgeon experience and follow-up structure should be checked before booking, not discovered after. Third, the surgery changes the stomach, not the relationship with food — her remark that pitfalls exist "that you don't even think about" is exactly why modern programmes pair the operation with dietetic and psychological follow-up.
It is also worth noting how the technology has moved on. The gastric band she had in 2005 is now only one of several options; sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass have largely taken its place because they produce larger, more durable weight loss without a foreign device.
What bariatric surgery looks like today
Bariatric surgery changes the stomach so that smaller amounts of food produce lasting satiety. All operations are done under general anaesthesia, today usually laparoscopically, through small punctures.
Gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy)
- How it works
- Most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube
- Typical candidacy
- The most common operation worldwide today
Gastric bypass
- How it works
- A small pouch is connected to the small intestine, bypassing part of it
- Typical candidacy
- Higher BMI, reflux or diabetes often favour it
Gastric band
- How it works
- An adjustable band restricts the upper stomach
- Typical candidacy
- Less used today; reversible, needs lifelong adjustment
Candidacy is usually a body mass index of 35 and above, or 30 and above with weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, after documented attempts at other methods. The final choice is made with a surgeon after examination.
Who is a candidate and how to prepare
Preparation starts weeks before surgery and matters as much as the operation itself:
- Assessment — blood tests, ultrasound, ECG and a check of the oesophagus and stomach; a psychologist and a dietitian see every patient.
- Before surgery — a low-calorie diet is often prescribed to shrink the liver; smoking and alcohol stop; blood-thinning medicines are paused on the doctor's instructions.
- Plan the aftercare — ask before booking which check-ups, vitamin schemes and dietitian visits are included, and for how long. Lifelong vitamin supplementation is part of every bariatric operation.
What recovery looks like
Most patients stay one to two nights in hospital. The first weeks are liquid and then soft food, progressing to normal textures over about a month. Walking starts the day after surgery; structured exercise returns over four to six weeks. Weight loss is fastest in the first six months and continues over 12–18 months.
Follow-up is permanent in spirit: blood tests for vitamins and minerals, dietitian reviews and, for some operations, monitoring that lasts for life.
How the first year after bariatric surgery usually goes
- Day of surgeryGeneral anaesthesia, laparoscopic operation; one to two nights in hospital.
- Weeks 1–2Liquid diet; short walks from the first day after surgery.
- Weeks 3–4Soft food introduced; most people return to non-physical work.
- Months 2–6Normal textures return; weight loss is at its fastest.
- Months 6–12Exercise routine established; vitamins and blood tests stay on schedule.
- Months 12–18Weight stabilises; annual follow-up continues for life.
Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery for international patients, including patients from London. The first consultation is free and can start online: the surgeon reviews your history and tests, agrees the operation and the price is fixed in the contract before a date is booked. Prices start at $3,600 for a gastric sleeve, with gastric bypass from $4,000. More details are on the bariatric surgery page and the page for patients from London.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Anne Diamond or her treatment. Her story is quoted here only because she has chosen to talk about her surgery openly for years.
Frequently asked questions
Did Anne Diamond have a gastric band?
Yes. She had her first band fitted in September 2005, as Digital Spy reported in February 2006 when her admission on Celebrity Fit Club made national news.
What did Anne Diamond say about the surgery?
She said she had tried every diet and nothing worked, went to Belgium where the band "didn't fit it right", later had a second one in the UK, and concluded: "I think without it I would be the size of a house" — while warning that there are "pitfalls in it that you don't even think about".
Is a gastric band still used today?
Rarely. Gastric sleeve and gastric bypass have largely replaced the band because they give larger, more durable weight loss without a device that needs lifelong adjustment.
How much weight can bariatric surgery help lose?
Typically a substantial share of excess weight over 12–18 months, with the exact figure depending on the operation, starting weight and aftercare. The surgeon gives realistic numbers at the consultation.
How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?
Prices start at $3,600 for a gastric sleeve, with gastric bypass from $4,000. The final price is fixed in the contract after the free consultation.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- Hello!, 23 April 2019
- Digital Spy, 6 February 2006
Medical background and further reading
General information about the procedure from health authorities and medical societies. It is not advice for any individual patient.
- PubMed / NCBI — Benefits and Risks of Bariatric Surgery in Adults: A Review (JAMA, 2020)
- PubMed / NCBI — Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: systematic review and meta-analysis (2016)
- World Health Organization — Obesity and overweight
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery — Bariatric Surgery Procedures
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
Considering the same operation? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
Message our coordinator
We reply right in the chat — you can send photos
Message us on TelegramMessage us on WhatsAppBy messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Read also
Bariatric surgeryFern Britton and her gastric band: “I did it for me”
Fern Britton said in 2008 that she had a gastric band fitted two years earlier. Her words, how weight-loss surgery has changed and what it involves now.
Bariatric surgeryDid James Argent have weight-loss surgery? Yes, and he announced it himself
James Argent had gastric sleeve surgery in April 2021, calling it life-changing. His own Instagram words, how the operation works and recovery.
Bariatric surgeryDid Kelly Osbourne have weight-loss surgery? Yes, and she calls it the best thing she's done
Kelly Osbourne said in 2020 that she had gastric sleeve surgery and called it the best thing she has ever done. Her words, the operation and recovery.
Bariatric surgeryGastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass: Differences, Weight Loss, Risks and Cost
Gastric sleeve vs gastric bypass compared: how each works, weight loss by the clinic's figures, side effects, who each suits, recovery, travel and cost.