BBC and other newspapers report today that gastric band weight loss operations for weight loss in the under 25 year olds is on the rise.

The number of under-25s being given weight-loss surgery on the NHS in England has quadrupled over the last three years !

Gastric bands work by reducing the size of a patient's stomach, therefore limiting the amount of food they can eat.

However, you need to be properly prepared for it in advance, but also have good support after the operation. It not only reduces the amount of food you can eat, but might make you intollerant to certain foods, and you have to be very careful with how often you eat, and what you eat.

Having a gastric band fitted, requires full commitment from the patient to change their eating habits and lifestyle. Emotionally, for obese people, changing eating habits, stopping the bingeing, and making the right lifestyle changes is a hard process. And patients generally need a lot of psychological support to help them achieve that.

Ideally, you would start this support process long before having the gastric band fitted to change attitude towards food ahead of time. Help with child obesity is urgently needed.

Personally I believe the government needs to make sure there are enough resources available for families with overweight parents or children. If a family learns to cook healthy food, gets more physically active, learn about nutrition and the importance of having a balanced meal plan throughout the day and week, the chances of obesity creeping in are getting lower. It must start at a very early age. Maybe introducing cooking lessons and healthy eating lessons from a very young age. Have some after school workshops.

Lots of ideas to be explored, but need to be put in place urgently.

And in the meantime, if you are struggling with your weight and need help, contact me, Anne Iarchy, Personal Trainer Barnet and North London, on 07880627944 or email me at anne@barnetpersonaltrainer.co.uk