What exactly IS a gastric band?

There’s been all sorts of hooplah over lovely big Fern’s gastric band deception, but what exactly is a gastric band, can anyone get one and should we want one?

Despite sounding like a snazzy belt, a gastric band is actually a very serious bit of kit that involves a hardcore (and dangerous) operation.

It’s the invention credited with Sharon Osbourne’s one-time weight loss (she’s since had it removed) and Anne Diamond’s reinvention. Courtney Love was also removed to have achieved dramatic weight loss through a band, but this has been hotly denied.

During surgery, a silicone device is wrapped around the stomach near the entrance, leaving a smaller pouch-like space to be filled with food and preventing patients from over-eating by making them feel fuller, sooner.

The pouch of food will gradually empty into the rest of the stomach and as it does, the person will start to feel hungry ready for their next meal.

In one sense, it provides will-power by tricking the tum.

A gastric band is a serious, and costly, operation and will only be offered on the NHS where all else has failed and serious health problems will occur if weight isn’t lost.

It is available privately though, at a cost of around seven grand.