Fern Britton and her gastric band: “I did it for me”

What did Fern Britton say about her gastric band?

Britton addressed the subject at the start of This Morning, as reported by the London Evening Standard: “I would just like to clear something up. Yes, yes, two years ago I had a gastric band, and do you know what I did it for me, because I wanted to. I didn't feel that I had the need to ring around and let everyone know, in fact only five people knew, including my husband obviously.”

In a written statement quoted in the same report she added: “I did this purely for myself and I would not wish to influence others to do the same. But for me it has worked and I am very pleased with the results.”

That is all this article relies on. Britton named the procedure, a gastric band, and said it was fitted around 2006. She did not discuss medical details, so we do not guess at them. Everything below about methods and recovery describes weight-loss surgery in general, not her treatment.

A private decision, explained in her own words

The most striking part of Britton's statement is not the operation but the principle behind it: this was her decision, made for herself, and she did not want to encourage anyone else to copy it. That is a sensible way to think about any bariatric procedure. It is a medical treatment chosen with a surgeon for one person's health and circumstances, not a trend to follow.

Her wish for privacy is also common. Many patients tell only their partner and a few close people. Whether to talk about it publicly is a personal choice; what matters medically is honest conversation with the doctor about weight history, previous attempts to lose weight and related conditions.

How weight-loss surgery has changed since the band

A gastric band is an adjustable ring placed around the top of the stomach to limit how much food can be eaten. Today the operations most often discussed at a consultation change the stomach itself or the route food takes, and gastric banding is not among the procedures listed on City Medical Centre's bariatric page. The operations the clinic does offer, all performed laparoscopically, compare as follows:

The sleeve involves no intestinal bypass but can be less durable if the diet is not followed. Bypass-type operations give larger weight loss and require vitamins and minerals for life. The mini bypass carries a risk of bile reflux.

Who is a candidate and how to prepare

Surgery is generally considered with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, and sometimes lower when non-surgical approaches have not worked. Before the operation:

• blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and clotting tests;
• consultations with a GP, endocrinologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist and gynaecologist;
• two to four weeks of cutting down fast carbohydrates and fats;
• no smoking for at least a month before surgery.

Recovery after bariatric surgery

Patients get up on the first day and usually leave hospital after one to five days. Office work typically resumes after two to four weeks, physical work after about six. Eating returns in stages over one to two months: liquids, then soft food, then ordinary textures. Swimming is fine after around 30 days, and travel is best planned no sooner than a month after surgery. The final result is assessed after one and a half to two years, and women are advised to wait 12–18 months before a pregnancy.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through a few small punctures.
2. Day 1You get out of bed and walk.
3. Days 1–5Discharge, depending on the procedure and your recovery.
4. Weeks 2–4Office work resumes; diet moves from liquids to soft food.
5. Months 1–2Ordinary food returns; swimming and travel are allowed.
6. Months 18–24Weight settles and the final result is assessed.

Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre offers sleeve gastrectomy ($3,600), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ($4,000), mini gastric bypass and SADI-S, all through four small laparoscopic punctures of 5–15 mm. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be done online; after the assessment the doctor recommends a procedure and the price is fixed in the contract. A personal coordinator accompanies the patient from the first enquiry to recovery, and the team follows up throughout the first year. See the bariatric surgery page for details.

City Medical Centre has no connection with Fern Britton or her treatment. Her words are quoted here because she spoke about her decision publicly.

Frequently asked questions

What weight-loss surgery did Fern Britton have?

She said on This Morning in April 2008 that she had had a gastric band fitted two years earlier, and that she did it for herself.

Why did Fern Britton keep it private?

She said she did not feel the need to tell everyone and that only five people knew, including her husband. In a statement she added that she did not wish to influence others to do the same.

Does City Medical Centre fit gastric bands?

Gastric banding is not among the procedures listed on the clinic's bariatric page. City Medical Centre offers sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S.

How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?

A sleeve gastrectomy costs $3,600 and a gastric bypass $4,000. The first consultation is free and the final price is fixed in the contract.

How is the right operation chosen?

The surgeon looks at BMI, related conditions such as diabetes, eating habits and test results, then recommends the procedure. It is decided at a consultation, not from someone else's story.