Bariatric surgeryUnited States5 min read
Did Star Jones have gastric bypass surgery? Yes — and she explained why she hid it
Star Jones, the attorney and television host best known as an original panellist on The View, lost 160 pounds — and for years refused to say how. In 2007 she came clean: gastric bypass surgery in 2003. Her explanation of why she hid it is one of the most honest statements about bariatric surgery an American celebrity has made. Here is what she said and what the operation involves.
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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
Star Jones
- Country
- United States
- Who
- American attorney and TV host
- Year of operation
- 2003
- Quote source
- CBS News, 31 July 2007
What did Star Jones say about her gastric bypass?
Star Jones had gastric bypass surgery in August 2003, after her weight had climbed to 307 pounds — a gain of 75 pounds in just 17 months. She lost 160 pounds. But for nearly four years she refused to say how, and when she finally did, in a Glamour magazine essay and a televised interview reported by CBS News in July 2007, the confession was as much about shame as about surgery.
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WhatsAppShe admitted she had been “intentionally evasive” when asked how the weight came off. Why hide it? Her words: “I was scared of what people might think of me,” and she felt “afraid to be vulnerable, and ashamed at not being able to get myself under control without this procedure.” She also worried that someone might copy the surgery without medical guidance and have “a tragic result.” Her story had a medical aftermath too: she later began psychological therapy in 2005, on her husband's encouragement — the kind of follow-up bariatric programmes now build into standard care.
That is what this article relies on: her quoted words in the report. Everything below describes gastric bypass and bariatric surgery in general, not her treatment.
Why her story matters
Star Jones named the barrier that stops many candidates from even booking a consultation: shame. Bariatric surgery is treatment for a disease — obesity — not a moral failure, and her sentence about being “ashamed at not being able to get myself under control without this procedure” is precisely the feeling modern programmes work through with psychologists before surgery.
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.
Her admission helped move that conversation in the American mainstream.
Her case also shows the scale of what bypass treats: a 75-pound gain in 17 months, a peak weight of 307 pounds, and 160 pounds lost afterwards. That is a clinically severe profile — the population guidelines target with surgery — and her long-term success shows what the operation plus follow-up care can achieve. The therapy she began two years in is not a footnote either: psychological support is one of the strongest predictors of keeping the weight off.
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 bypass — Star Jones's operation — remains one of the two mainstays.
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 stomach pouch is connected to the small intestine, bypassing part of it
- Typical candidacy
- Higher BMI, reflux or type 2 diabetes often favour it
Gastric band
- How it works
- An adjustable band restricts the upper stomach
- Typical candidacy
- Rarely used today; reversible, but carries long-term complications
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:
- 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. Lifelong vitamin supplementation is part of every bariatric operation, and psychological support, as Star Jones's story shows, is part of the treatment, not an admission of weakness.
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 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 New York. 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 New York.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Star Jones or her treatment. Her story is quoted here only because she chose to speak about her surgery openly.
Frequently asked questions
Did Star Jones have gastric bypass surgery?
Yes. She had the operation in August 2003, when her weight had reached 307 pounds, and confirmed it publicly in 2007 after losing 160 pounds.
Why did Star Jones hide her surgery for years?
In her own words, she was "scared of what people might think" and "ashamed at not being able to get myself under control without this procedure" — so she was "intentionally evasive" about how the weight came off.
What is gastric bypass?
An operation that creates a small stomach pouch connected to the small intestine, bypassing part of it. It produces lasting satiety with small portions and is one of the two main bariatric operations today.
How much weight can gastric bypass help lose?
Typically a substantial share of excess weight over 12–18 months — in Star Jones's case, 160 pounds. 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.
- CBS News (AP), 31 July 2007
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
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