Fern Britton Opens Up About Weight Loss Journey After Gastric Band Surgery and Finding Balance

Former This Morning host Fern Britton, now 67, has shared insights into her ongoing journey with weight loss following gastric band surgery in 2006. The popular presenter, who was then a size 22, took her doctor’s advice to undergo the procedure, which helped her shed an impressive five stone. However, she recently revealed that maintaining the weight loss has been challenging and described how she regained control of her health naturally.

In her new book, The Older I Get: How I Repowered My Life, Fern reflects on the ups and downs of her experience. She admits that after her initial weight loss, she entered what she calls her “era of indolence,” during which she gained weight due to unhealthy habits. “It helped me lose a lot of weight while exercising regularly and eating good, wholesome food,” she writes. “The band works by restricting the capacity of your stomach so that you don’t overeat. However, in my era of indolence, not only did I stop exercising, I also stopped eating well”, reported by Gloucestershire Live.

Fern also highlighted a common misconception about gastric bands, explaining that while the band restricts food intake, it doesn’t prevent indulging in unhealthy treats. “The irony of a gastric band is that it allows wine, chocolate, cakes, and almost anything else full of sugar or fat to slip down very easily,” she noted.

Determined to improve her health, Fern took up a fitness routine once again, even as she prepared for shoulder replacement surgery. She started with the Couch to 5k running program for beginners, gradually building her endurance. “The slow and steady approach is a great confidence builder, and soon I was running just a few minutes more each time and my legs were getting stronger,” she shared. Alongside exercise, she focused on healthier eating, increasing her intake of protein and vegetables while cutting back on processed snacks.

Relearning the signals of fullness was another significant step in her journey. “I once again found the feeling of satiety,” she said, acknowledging her past habit of overriding these signals. Now, with a renewed outlook on well-being, she shared advice on long-term health, saying, “If we can manage to consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while minimizing processed foods, sugars, and excessive salt, we’ll be doing ourselves a real favor in the long term.”

With a revitalized approach to fitness and nutrition, Fern Britton has found her balance, proving that health journeys often require ongoing commitment and adjustment.