The number of times that an anti-obesity treatment has made front page news could be counted on one hand, possibly on one finger, but looking at the covers of the national press in the UK last week - it was the story that dominated. Fern Britton, the popular presenter of ITV’s This Morning, it was revealed, had been fitted with a gastric band two years ago but had not made her decision public. The band is fitted around the stomach and reduces the amount of food required to give the sensation of feeling full.
The 5ft 6 presenter, who turned 50 a year ago, had, in those two years, lost over 5 stone and had dropped from a size 22 to a size 16. She had insisted that her weight loss was due to eating less and exercise. Well that is true. Britton has completed a number of bike rides for charity and exercises every day. As for eating less, well that would have to be true too: the gastric band would prevent her from eating a large portion of food.
So why the consternation from the press? Why have they labelled Britton a hypocrite and a liar? There have been numerous articles saying that by not disclosing her surgery, Britton was misleading women about how she had lost weight. This is of course ridiculous. Eating less and taking more exercise will result in weight loss - that is a medically proven fact. Yes, having a gastric band will result in a more significant weight loss but it still needs to be complimented with good diet and a proper exercise routine. Having a gastric band fitted is the last port of call in weight loss treatments and does not come without risks. There is a two per cent mortality rate from risks such as perforation of the stomach and adverse reactions to the anaesthetic.
So why should Britton have announced that she had a gastric band fitted? There are tens of thousands of women taking anti-obesity medication in this country, drugs such as Xenical, Acomplia and Reductil. Should they have to announce to everyone they meet that they are on this medication? Of course not; it is a decision that is completely up to them. Why then should Fern Britton not have been given the same right? She has said that she had the surgery for herself so why are people making it about them? If we want to lose weight we have to take responsibility for our own diet, exercise regime and medication, if we chose to follow that path. We can’t blame Fern Britton and say that she has let us down; in the end we all have to take personal responsibility.