Did Frans Duijts have a gastric reduction? Yes, and he talks about it openly

What did Frans Duijts say about his gastric reduction?

The Dutch folk singer had a gastric reduction (in Dutch: maagverkleining) in 2019 and has spoken about it openly since. In an interview with the Dutch magazine Panorama in August 2026 he explained why: the decision was about health, not vanity. “The main reason was that I had diabetes. Diabetes is a silent killer: if you do nothing about it, it slowly eats you up, it literally destroys you.”

He also put the operation in a wider context: “That is why the gastric reduction was much more than losing weight for me; it was also an investment in the future. I want to be there later for my children and hopefully for my grandchildren too.”

That is all we rely on here. Duijts did not say in this interview which type of gastric reduction he had (for example a sleeve or a bypass), so this article does not guess. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.

What his words say about life after the operation

What makes the interview valuable is that Duijts does not present the operation as a quick fix. He said the diabetes later returned because of a hereditary predisposition, and that he now injects once a week, watches what he eats and hardly drinks soft drinks. He trains three to four times a week and said: “I had to learn to eat again. Small bites, chewing well.”

His weight, he said, now stays at around 95 kilos: “I don’t need to weigh 80 kilos, but I never want to go back to that 140.” And he was honest about the mental side: “Everyone says I have changed enormously… but sometimes I still feel like that big, heavy guy from before.” That matches what surgeons tell patients: the operation is a tool, and the long-term result depends heavily on new eating habits, exercise and follow-up.

How bariatric surgery is done today

Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery reduces the volume of the stomach and, in some procedures, changes the route of food through the intestine. At City Medical Centre all four procedures are performed laparoscopically, through four small punctures of 5–15 mm:

• Sleeve gastrectomy — most of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow tube.
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass — a small stomach pouch is connected directly to the small intestine.
• Mini gastric bypass (one-anastomosis) and SADI-S — options for specific situations, such as a very high BMI.

Which procedure fits depends on the BMI, related conditions such as diabetes, and eating habits. That choice is made by the surgeon together with the patient at a consultation, not on the basis of a celebrity story.

Who is a candidate and how to prepare

Bariatric surgery is generally considered with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions; sometimes at a lower BMI if non-surgical approaches have failed. Preparation includes:

• blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel;
• consultations with a GP, endocrinologist, psychiatrist and cardiologist (and a gynaecologist for women);
• cutting fast carbohydrates and fats 2–4 weeks before surgery;
• quitting smoking a month before.

Recovery and life afterwards

After the operation patients stay in hospital for 1–5 days and are up and moving on the first day. The diet is built up in stages over 1–2 months: liquid, then soft, then solid food — the “learning to eat again” Duijts described. Office work is usually possible after 2–4 weeks, physical work after about 1.5 months, swimming after 30 days. Travel is best planned no earlier than a month after surgery. The final result is reached in 1.5–2 years, and after a bypass vitamins are needed for life. The timeline below shows the usual stages.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation through small punctures; you are up and moving on the first day.
2. Days 1–5Hospital stay under supervision, start of the liquid diet.
3. Weeks 2–4Office work is usually possible again; the diet moves from liquid to soft food.
4. Month 1Swimming is allowed after 30 days; travel is best planned from this point.
5. Months 1–2Gradual return to solid food, with small portions and careful chewing.
6. Months 18–24The final weight-loss result is reached; vitamins as prescribed, lifelong after a bypass.

Bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S for international patients. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online. Current prices start at $3,600 for a sleeve gastrectomy and $4,000 for a gastric bypass; the final cost is named after the consultation and fixed in the contract. The team follows up with patients during the first year. More details are on the bariatric surgery page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Frans Duijts or his treatment. His story is simply a well-known example of someone who talked openly about the procedure.

Frequently asked questions

When did Frans Duijts have his gastric reduction?

In 2019. He talked about it again in an interview with Panorama in August 2026.

Why did Frans Duijts choose a gastric reduction?

He said the main reason was his diabetes, which he called a silent killer. For him the operation was an investment in the future, so that he can be there for his children and grandchildren.

Which type of gastric reduction did Frans Duijts have?

He did not say in the interview we rely on, so we do not speculate. The most common options today are a sleeve gastrectomy and a gastric bypass; the choice depends on BMI and related conditions.

How much does bariatric surgery cost at City Medical Centre?

Prices start at $3,600 for a sleeve gastrectomy and $4,000 for a gastric bypass. The final cost is given after the free consultation and fixed in the contract.

Can weight or diabetes come back after the operation?

Yes, the long-term result depends heavily on eating habits, exercise and follow-up. Duijts himself said his diabetes later returned because of heredity and that he now manages it with a weekly injection.