Presenter Vanessa Feltz has opened up about her weight loss journey and the horrific “fat-shaming” she endured.
Now a size 10 following what the 64-year-old described as being down to a “gastric bypass plus broken heart,” the presenter has reflected on her experience of her weight being discussed throughout her career.
In her latest column for Mail Online, she candidly admitted: “I’d have been the perfect candidate for the jabs and relieved and delighted to be rescued by them.
“I’d certainly be thrilled to answer my most asked question: ‘How have you lost the weight?’ ‘Fat jabs!’ instead of the grisly truth, ‘Gastric bypass plus broken heart.'”
Vanessa Feltz opened up about her weight loss
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The former This Morning regular went on to add: “The gruesome finale of a 16-year mistake with a one-hit wonder nuked my appetite.
“It will probably spark back up eventually, but three years post-seismic break-up, I still can’t tuck into a knickerbocker glory with my customary gusto.”
Ms Feltz split from her former fiancé, singer Ben Ofoedu, in 2023 after a 16-year relationship with him.
She has been candid about her heartbreak, particularly after Mr Ofoedu announced his engagement to his new girlfriend.
Vanessa Feltz talked about her split from Ben Ofoedu when discussing why she lost weight
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The difficult experience is partly what Ms Feltz attributes to her weight loss, with the Channel 5 star going on to reflect on how the transformation has impacted her life.
She wrote: “I weigh nine and a half stone. Last year, I strode up a premiere red carpet in a strapless leather dress I bought in 2000.
“I order clothes online and know they will fit. I have cheekbones. Strapless bras don’t carve welts in my back fat.
“I don’t lie awake tortured by fear of diabetes or any other weight-related diseases. I have a wiggle in my walk.”
Vanessa Feltz reflected on being ‘fat-shamed’ throughout her career
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She continued: “I like being slim. It is fun and fabulous. It would be a b****y shame if I didn’t.
“I don’t have the right to bare arms – mine are a toxic melange of bingo wing and surplus flesh – but I do it anyway.
“If you don’t like it, I don’t care. I can testify that being lighter doesn’t make you Elle Macpherson or render you irresistible. I look like myself, but scrawnier.”
Ms Feltz also highlighted some of the negative responses she’s faced following her appearance change.
Vanessa Feltz has been single since splitting from long-term fiance Ben in 2023 | CHANNEL 5
“Some slim friends don’t seem to like it much,” she confessed. “They’re the ones who bark, ‘You’re disappearing. You look ill. It’s not attractive. For heaven’s sake, don’t lose any more.’
“On reflection, perhaps they’re not really pals. I still wouldn’t dream of wearing a bikini.
“I do dream of Dairy Milk but, these days, to my own amazement, I can stop at two squares.”