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Naughty Fern Naughty Fern

She couldn't control her weight

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Fern Britton seemed defiant when she appeared on This Morning last week to justify not going public about the gastric band she had fitted two years ago.

But Closer can exclusively reveal that, although Fern seems like the bubbly champion of the big and happy brigade, behind the scenes she was desperate not to be fat at 50 and felt like a failure for not being able to fight her food demons.

Fern, who turned 50 last July, has inspired viewers on ITV1’s This Morning by shrinking from a size 22 to a 14-16, losing 5st in the process.

The 5ft 6 TV presenter publicly insisted her astonishing weight loss was down to healthy eating, portion control and exercise – but she now faces a public backlash after being forced to admit she had a gastric band fitted two years ago.

No mention of surgery

Just a month ago, Fern – who’s mum to twins  Jack and Harry, 14, and daughters Gracie, 12, and Winnie, seven – told Closer: “Nothing works as well as eating what I love – just not as much. By doing that and exercising, I’ve lost weight.”

She didn’t mention the drastic gastric surgery, in which a band is placed at the top of the stomach to make it smaller and restrict the amount of food the person can eat.

The keyhole op takes four hours and has a two per cent mortality rate from risks such as perforation of the stomach and reactions to anaesthesia.

Swore friends and family to secrecy

Closer can reveal that Fern, who’s married to TV chef Phil Vickery, 47, swore all her closest friends and associates to secrecy after having the op, as she considered it a humiliating weakness that she had not been able to control her eating.

“She felt a failure and made her friends promise they’d never breathe a word about it to anyone,” said a friend.

“She insisted she was doing it for health, rather than cosmetic reasons. It’s not a decision she took lightly. She worried for weeks before the operation about potential side-effects. Afterwards, she just didn’t want to talk about it. She asked her husband not to mention it around other people.

Said she’d rather be big and happy

Before the op, Fern had always insisted she was happy with the way she looked. Following the publication of unflattering pictures of her in a bikini in 2005, she claimed: “I’d rather be big and happy, than on a diet and miserable.”

But it seems the reality was very different, and she had the operation just months later.

The source revealed:  “As her 50th birthday approached, Fern couldn’t bear to look so big. She was determined to reach the big 5-0 a new woman. The surgery was a last resort, so she was desperate to keep it a secret.

The op gave Fern confidence

“It had got to the point where Fern’s weight was affecting her everyday life. She felt embarrassed that she couldn’t control her eating. Since the op, her confidence has been boosted no end.”

But it can’t have been too far from her mind that, as a spokeswoman for low-fat
food Ryvita – for which she is reportedly paid £200,000 – having the clandestine op could throw up a potential conflict of interests.

Defending herself from critics last week, Fern said on TV: “I didn’t lie, but there are some things a girl likes to keep for herself. Two years ago, I had a gastric band operation. I did it for me, because I wanted to.

“I didn’t feel the need to ring round and let everyone know.”

WORDS: Kiki King

Readers CommentsReaders Comments

Posted by jemma1123

RE: She couldn't control her weight

So what if she had a gastric band fitted?
Good on her for taking the risk of having it done!
It's still true that smaller portions and exercise helps weight loss. A gastric band means the person will only eat smaller portions, so it's the same thing!
She looks fantastic and I fully understand why she didn't want the whole wide world to know! It's personal!

Posted 10/06/2008 09:50:34

Posted by butterfly2

RE: She couldn't control her weight

Posted 10/06/2008 14:39:42

Posted by gaynaduffy

RE: She couldn't control her weight

For crying out loud shes lost 5 stone in weight praise the bloody woman,do not flogg her . whats your problem JEALOUS

Posted 10/06/2008 18:58:00

Posted by Smurfzak

RE: She couldn't control her weight

There is more to worry about in this world than poor Fern Britton and her gastric band.................... Get over it, it still takes load of will power, guts and determination to go through with such an operation - What about Globel Warming, Floods, Famine, War - get over yourselves - OH YEAH FORGOT - the latter doesn't sell - WELL DONE FERN

Posted 11/06/2008 11:20:03

Posted by dowlingk2004

RE: She couldn't control her weight

She looks fab and has to justify herself to no one! Well done Fern! x

Posted 11/06/2008 16:31:34

Posted by kitten

RE: She couldn't control her weight

Why can't the media leave Fern Britton alone the women had a gastric band fitted she did not commit first degree murder GET OVER IT! there are more important things to worry about in this world like the starving for example. but than again that goes not sale the papers and magazines. also i would like to point out that Fern Britton is not one of these presenters who plays with the press. i am a large lady and i don't feel that she let me down because of this it is her PRIVATE life.

Posted 11/06/2008 16:43:07

Posted by jojobanjo

RE: She couldn't control her weight

good on Fern for having the gastric band fitted...she shouldnt feel like a failure, it is an aid to help control weight, not a cheat! As a person who has had this procedure, it involves work (and pain if you eat too fast)!!you still need to watch what you eat, the only difference is you cant eat as much. People addicted to cigarettes and alcohol get help..(you dont need these to survive), yet people who love food or have that addiction to food are slated because of getting help (and guess what...you need food to survive)! I also would like to point out that the gastric band operation takes 30 to 45mins, not 4 hours..if its taking 4 hours then I would have to question the abilities of the surgeon. I have to say, as a person who has had this procedure, I have never felt happier, as I have been overweight since I was 5 years old. So well done to Fern, and anyone out there who has had this done.

Posted 12/06/2008 08:53:32

Posted by sarie75

RE: She couldn't control her weight

Women come in all shapes and sizes, some are happy with their size, some aren't. Fern obvioulsy fell into the latter category so decided to do something about it, not only to boost her self confidence but to improve her quality of life. Good luck to her and well done fern for showing the nation that even the loveliest of celebs such as yourself have their demons to overcome.

Posted 12/06/2008 22:43:02

Posted by Tinker2*

RE: She couldn't control her weight

I think Fern looks fabulous and does it really matter how it was done? She quite clearly didn't take the decision lightly so I think the public should support her choices in life...... as long as Fern's happy then people should support her rather than slagging her off!
Most woman (if they could afford it) would probaly have surgery to make themselves feel better about themselves, so why shouldn't Fern?

Posted 13/06/2008 08:50:29

Posted by lovatt

RE: She couldn't control her weight

Well done Fern! I don't blame her the decision she made it didn't come lightly. I myself have had a gastric bypass to which is more extreme one ferns mine's with me for life for both of us it's been life changing but for the better

Posted 13/06/2008 18:08:27

Posted by jaz88pa

RE: She couldn't control her weight

There is one aspect of this story that still intrigues me...... If Fern swore her family and friends to secrecy how are we hearing about this story now? After two years was someone unable to keep their mouth shut any longer? Were they literally bursting at the seems to spill the beans?

Posted 16/06/2008 00:57:15

Posted by robwin

RE: She couldn't control her weight

What a load of rubbish.
She wasn't feeling that weak to being on the front of nearly all the magazines every week boasting of how she is losing weght due to her diet details which were also published.
Being paid a load of money for a load of lies eh,the word fraud springs to mind.
Wouldn't suprise me if she owned shares in th mags as she's still appearing in them.
Whether her weakness has now weakened eh.

Posted 18/06/2008 22:40:26



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