The baby food diet has previously been credited with the slim profiles of other famous figures.  Jennifer Aniston apparently lost 7 pounds in as many days by eating 14 pots a day together with a dinner of fish and steamed vegetables.  Reece Witherspoon and Cheryl Cole are also understood to have followed the diet for rapid weight loss.

Patients lost over half their excess weight in the first year and everyday activities were improved too.

Dietitians recommend that, for a fortnight after gastric band surgery, only liquids should be consumed. Advice should be given to you as to what liquids are most suitable.

For the next two weeks, soft food – such as mashed potato, mince, well-cooked vegetables and yoghurt – are advisable. After that, you can return to ‘normal eating’.

And therein lies the problem. It’s very easy to slip back into bad habits – after all, what is ‘normal eating’?

Golden rules for gastric bands

Well here are a few golden rules for a balanced diet – for gastric band surgery patients and others – to improve your health and lifestyle:

• Only eat three small meals a day, with two fruit snacks in between
• Take small bites, eat slowly and chew thoroughly
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat the best quality food you can
• Stop eating when you get full!

In fact, gastric bands (and gastric balloons) do not just control the amount you eat, but also promote better eating habits too. The result is fast, effective and controllable weight-loss in the short term, which stays off in the long term.

Gastric band prices and further information are available online at Why Go Abroad.

According to a new report, obesity currently costs the Scottish NHS £457mn a year – but that figure could hit £3bn by 2030, when 40% of the population would be classed as obese, if the problem is left unchecked.

The news is recognition of the life-changing impact that gastric band surgery can have and major health benefits of the 45-minute procedure.

Obesity surgery experts at Why Go Abroad have carried out hundreds of the procedures and seen first-hand the affects they can have.

“We have had patients lose up to 15 stone with a gastric band, and the great thing is that they can be adjusted to suit each person,” said a spokesman.

“They can help prevent a range of conditions and gastric bands can dramatically improve your quality of life. The more people that are able to have them the better for the overall health of the UK.”

Gastric band prices

Gastric band procedures are available from Why Go Abroad from just £5,450 and GMC-certified surgeons will advise you every step of the way – from a free initial consultation, throughout the procedure and during your aftercare.

Dietary advice, examples of before and after pictures from gastric band procedures and a range of other information is available at Why Go Abroad.

In a recent study, volunteers who consumed fewer calories not only lost weight, but also ‘significantly enhanced’ their immunity.

And, as gastric bands work directly to reduce a patient’s calorie intake, the news is expected to drive up the (already growing!) market for obesity surgery in the UK.

How does a gastric band work?

A gastric band consists of a loop that is placed around the stomach, restricting its size. As a result of this reduced stomach capacity, you feel full after eating less food and therefore your calorie intake drops.

The beauty of a gastric band – also known as a Lapband – is that the loop can be adjusted so that the patient can eat more or less food comfortably, allowing calorie intake and weight loss to be easily controlled.

Once good eating habits have been learned and the patient has lost the required amount of weight, the band can then be removed or simply kept at minimum restriction.

A gastric balloon also restricts the stomach capacity, but the surgeon does so by inserting a balloon into the stomach, then inflating it to the required size. The balloon is kept inside the stomach for six months and is then removed, by which time the patient should have adopted a more controlled way of eating.

Obesity surgery experts Why Go Abroad have all the answers you need so visit their website to request a brochure, book a free consultation or find out gastric band prices.

The Active Fat campaign encourages people to monitor their waistline and take steps to keep themselves healthy such as eating sensibly and taking exercise.

And obesity surgery expert Why Go Abroad is keen to highlight how weight-loss surgery can also play its part in staying healthy.

A spokesman for Why Go Abroad said: “Exercise and eating healthily is the first step for anyone looking to lose weight – in fact, they should always remain essential parts of people’s routine.

“However, this approach alone won’t help everyone and it’s important to be aware of other measures to lose potentially harmful fat.

“These include a gastric balloon or gastric band, both of which are proven to help everyday people slim down to a healthier weight. You may not have considered it, but weight-loss surgery can play a major role in restoring your shape and wellbeing.”

Why are gastric balloons so effective?

The Active Fat campaign has shown that fat cells don’t just sit around doing nothing, they actively stimulate disease and harmful conditions – putting people at risk of cancer, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

A gastric balloon (a solution for people with a body mass index of around 25 to 30) helps you feel full, eat less and therefore lose weight. This weight loss reduces the number of harmful fat cells and cuts the risk of disease.

A gastric band works in a similar way but is aimed at people with a higher BMI.

For more information or for obesity surgery prices visit Why Go Abroad.

And while those after a bikini body tend to tone up with cosmetic surgery – such as a tummy tuck or liposuction – for those whose goal is to lose a little more extra weight, obesity surgery can be the best answer.

Exercise and a healthy diet won’t work for everyone and obesity surgery offers a safe and easily manageable way to bring your weight down.

A spokesman for Why Go Abroad said: “We have had patients who have lost 15 stone with a gastric band and that sort of result is truly life-changing.

“As a weight-loss surgery expert chats to you before the procedure then monitors you afterwards, it is a really manageable and reassuring process. After you have lost that sort of weight, you can really start to think about working towards your perfect summer body!”

Gastric band

Why Go Abroad’s most popular obesity surgery procedure is the gastric band, which is available from £5,450.

The procedure is straightforward – a surgeon simply attaching an adjustable band to your stomach to restrict your food intake – and the result is usually significant weight loss. As the band is adjustable, your surgeon can amend the speed of weight loss to suit.

Other obesity surgery available includes gastric balloons, which are even more affordable at just £3,950.

Visit Why Go Abroad for more information.

For many, the main attraction is that Lapbands can be adjusted so easily, meaning that they are comfortable and perfectly suited to each patient.

And with band adjustments from as cheap as £125, individual attention and personal care is also highly affordable.

Why might you need a gastric band adjustment

Not every patient responds to obesity surgery in the same way and, if the gastric band fitting results in weight loss that is either too rapid or too slow, then the band can be adjusted to suit.

Experts monitor the outcome of the original procedure during post-operation appointments, which ensure that gastric band patients’ wellbeing is paramount. If any side effects or lack of comfort is reported, the surgeon is able to immediately recommend an adjustment.

A spokesman for Why Go Abroad explained: “Adjusting the results of most operations or cosmetic surgery is pretty difficult after the procedure, but it is a straightforward process for gastric bands.

“The band is a simple loop that restricts the size of the stomach and this loop can be tightened or loosened as required. It’s very easily done and this element of personalisation makes it a very popular and successful procedure.

“During your first year with a gastric band it’s perfectly normal to have several adjustments but these should certainly decrease over time. However, rest assured, our experts will advise you every step of the way.”

For gastric band prices, to request a brochure or for more information visit Why Go Abroad.

If the much-fancied Argentines live up to their billing as one of the hot favourites, Maradona would be able to hold the prestigious trophy above his head knowing that he is the only man to do so having have had a gastric band fitted!

Maradona is one of the most high profile gastric band success stories, with his transformation from an obese 20-stone (at just 5ft 5in tall) to a slimline chat show host and now international football manager. Check out these before and after pictures to see for yourself.

Gastric bands from Why Go Abroad

Weight-loss surgery experts at Why Go Abroad said: “It often takes a high-profile celebrity to put a cosmetic or obesity surgery procedure in the public eye.

“However, the reality is that our surgeons have helped hundreds of ordinary people to lose weight and improve their health. Our case studies show exactly how successful weight-loss surgery can be and you certainly don’t need to be a former football star to afford a gastric band.”

Gastric band prices start at £5,450 and further information on the procedure – as well as gastric balloons and other obesity surgery, can be found at Why Go Abroad.

Most people are aware of the dramatic effect that weight-loss surgery can have and these before and after pictures highlight this perfectly.

However, as with any surgery, patients should prepare fully by reading about gastric bands, meeting their surgeon and asking questions about the procedure.

Here, obesity surgery expert Why Go Abroad has compiled a list of questions and answers to start you thinking about the treatment.

Gastric band Q and A

1) Apart from weight loss, what are the side effects?

There may be temporary side effects after the surgery, such as bruising and pain around the healing area, and possible nausea from the anaesthetic. These should heal fairly quickly leaving you free to resume normal activities.

2) Can I eat normally after a gastric band?

You should follow your surgeon’s instructions for the first few weeks after surgery, but you will be able to return to a healthy, balanced diet (that is high in fibre and low in fat) within approximately four weeks.

A Lapband will help reduce the amount you can eat so you may also be advised to take vitamin tablets to supplement your food intake.

3) How much weight will I lose?

This is impossible to answer. Different patients lose totally different amounts of weight with gastric bands (up to 15 stones in one case), though developing a healthy diet and active lifestyle will increase your chances of significant weight loss.

4) Can my gastric band be removed after I have reached my recommended weight?

The operation is totally reversible and your band can be removed at any time. As long as you stick to the same sensible eating habits you have developed with the Lapband, you should not gain weight.

Contact Why Go Abroad for more information on obesity surgery.