Finally there’s a chink of light in the obesity crisis — a new operation that’s quick, easy and life-changingly effective. I can’t say I’ve had too much confidence in the Government’s plans to date.

From bitter and long experience, I can tell you that exercise and diet are nightmares when you’re over 25 stone. The weight will come back after you have gone on a diet. It is difficult to drag yourself outside for a walk. You risk embarrassment and humiliation if you go to the gym.

A weight loss operation, which takes only 40 minutes and can control your appetite, is much more optimistic in the renewed fight against obesity.

The principle behind it is similar to my more complex and invasive operation, which allowed me to lose 50% of my body weight within a little over a year.

A new operation, called  left gastric artery embolisation (LGAE) can be done in 40 minutes and promises to control your appetite (file image)

A new operation, called  left gastric artery embolisation (LGAE) can be done in 40 minutes and promises to control your appetite (file image) 

Left gastric artery embolisation, also known as LGAE, is a new procedure that reduces the production of Ghrelin.

A gastric sleeve was performed on me seven years ago. It involved the removal of a significant portion of my stomach, which includes the area that makes most of the hormone.

More popularly it’s known as the hunger hormone, and I can hardly describe how grateful I am to be rid of much of mine. While I do get hungry from time to time, it’s never in the way that I did before, and, when I eat, I’m quickly full.

The new process is fast enough to be completed in your lunch break. As the lead of the LGAE trial at St Mary’s Hospital in London, Ahmed R. Ahmed, says, ‘You could go in hungry and come out not hungry.’ The trial is backed by Imperial College London and has received a £1.2 million grant from the NHS’s National Institute for Health Research.

That might sound like a lot — each operation will cost the NHS £1,500 — but to achieve a similar effect, my procedure, which removed 80 per cent of my stomach, cost £10,000. Two days in the hospital and a three- to four hour stay were required. It also took several months for me to adjust my stomach. My stomach still has tiny scars.

The new op is a no-brainer for cost, time and reducing the likelihood of the terrible diseases associated with obesity — including type 2 diabetes and heart disease — which cost the NHS so much.

It’s done under local anaesthetic and involves making a small cut in the groin or wrist and passing a catheter up through blood vessels. To reduce the amount of blood flowing to the area above the stomach and stop the release of ghrelin, microscopic beads can be injected.

Jenni (pictured) claims obesity is a far more complex problem than greed or laziness

Jenni (pictured), claims that obesity is far more complicated than greed and laziness

The treatment has not been offered to anyone in Britain, however, 76 people with an index between 35- 50 are being recruited.

In the U.S., around 25 people have had it done, and I was delighted to hear one of them — Kirsten Kerfoot, who has since lost 6.5 stone — echo my feelings exactly.

‘I used to see an advert for Chinese food on the TV, and think, “I want it!” That was my experience my entire life — with food having this grip on me. Thanks to the procedure, I don’t fixate on food like that any more. It’s like being unchained from food,’ she says.

I don’t want to hear anyone claiming: ‘This is the easy way out — diet and exercise are the only solutions for lazy, greedy people.’

It’s not an easy task. This works and saves the NHS money in the long-term. It is also a gift that gives hope to many people who are suffering. Obesity, more than just greed and laziness, is far more serious. It would have been so easy to get weight loss surgery during lunch!

  • Cancel Culture continues to career across the country — the most recent example being at Durham’s South College, where students stormed out of a speech by the columnist Rod Liddle.

The students were called ‘pathetic’ by the college principal, who is now being investigated. The college principal also prohibited him from giving a speech and banned him from going on business trips. Is it possible to speak more than that? This week, I was reminded of how wonderful freedom of speech used to be after the BBC began repeating Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies. Everything was there — jokes on sex, weight, men . . .

It’s humane and funny, and there’s no fear of upsetting anybody and being cancelled for sexism, fattism or terfism. The original production was 23 years old. A sense of humor has also been lost.

Helena should always wear her clothes! 

Jenni claims Danish model Helena Christensen (pictured) looks better modelling clothes than promoting her lingerie

Jenni claims Danish model Helena Christensen (pictured) looks better modelling clothes than promoting her lingerie 

We’ve become familiar with the Danish model Helena Christensen promoting her lingerie range, wearing precious little. It’s amazing how much she can look better in modeling clothes. This outfit from Dolce & Gabbana is not unlike what she might have posed in when she started out 30 years ago. Wish I’d looked like that at 52!

  • Bruno Tonioli is now a candidate to be re-elected to the Strictly Judging Panel, which places Anton Du Beke in danger. No! He’s the best — charming, funny, expert, honest, and we know he can dance. Can’t we have them both? Five judges can’t be too many, can it?

Pirates of parcels – Struck

Christmas is coming and masses of presents will be delivered, but watch out for the ‘porch pirates’. I was once a victim three years back.

When I returned from work, the new top wasn’t there.

Someone stole it. It could have been my fault.

I was there.

However, the thieves are now a laughing stock. They have been captured on the photo that was taken by the driver. You should insist that the driver calls or knocks quickly and make sure they get there on time. It’s all too easy for these horrid people.

Snow? It’s only fun for children

Facebook, we are grateful for your 11-year-old memory. ‘Snowed In’ was the caption from the Peak District.

Thank goodness we don’t live there any more. Best wishes to my old neighbours who’ve been with no heat or light for so long.

Batten down the hatches, there’s more coming your way.

Joanna’s right, meeting the Queen really is scary

Jenni said she babbled like an idiot when she met Her Majesty very formally for the OBE in 1999, at a reception for the WRVS in 2005 (pictured), at the BBC in 2006 and being made a Dame in 2011

Jenni said she babbled like an idiot when she met Her Majesty very formally for the OBE in 1999, at a reception for the WRVS in 2005 (pictured), at the BBC in 2006 and being made a Dame in 2011

I know exactly why Joanna Lumley was ‘terrified’ when she first met the Queen.

Her Majesty met me very formally at a reception in 1999 for the OBE. This is pictured at the BBC, 2006, and when I was made a Dame.

Every time I’ve babbled on like an idiot because, as Joanna said, it feels like an electric shock when the woman who’s so familiar from a distance stands in front of you.

She was three when you saw her Coronation. When she was five, you had to fight large crowds in order to get to her.

And you can’t remember what you were laughing about with her when she came to your Woman’s Hour studio.

Hope she doesn’t think that her subjects are all blithering idiots.