Vanessa Feltz says her yo-yo weight loss journey felt like being stuck in a "personal jail".
The radio and TV presenter, 61, has admitted losing weight was a "vicious cycle" as she would diet for 18 months before putting the weight back on.
She says the only way she was able to keep a steady weight was by undergoing a gastric bypass and has come out in support of new weight-loss jabs.
"Sometimes dieting, or barely eating anything for a year, can feel like a punitive stint in prison with no chance of parole.
"Your only short reprieve would be scoffing cake or crisps, then before you know it you’ve regained all the weight and you’re back in your own personal jail yet again.
She told The Sun: "With the best will in the world, the vicious cycle would begin all over again."
Back in 1999, the broadcaster slimmed from a size 22 to a size 10 but later put the weight back on.
The Celebrity Big Brother star then lost 2st in 2004 but started her journey again in 2007 where she lost 3st.
The "vicious cycle" returned as Vanessa ended up being a size 22 again.
She decided to get a gastric band fitting in 2010 which made her stomach smaller and wasn't able to eat large amounts of solid food.
It left Vanessa eating things such as ice cream and consuming "thousands of calories".
She was left in a bad way as she was suffering from symptoms including reflux and sought urgent medical attention.
The TV star was told her gastric band had slipped and was then advised to have the band removed.
While they managed to remove the band, Vanessa explained how it had to “be carefully dissected” which “took time”, and led to complications.
Following the procedure, Vanessa spent some time in intensive care but was still able to have the gastric bypass done.
She then decided to have a gastric bypass instead which saw a small pouch created in the stomach and connected to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and meaning she took in less food and felt fuller for longer.
Vanessa lost a further 5st with the surgery and has kept the weight off ever since.
She admitted she "paid a fortune" for the operation but it's the "best money" should could have spent.
"It was an investment into my health and longevity," she added.
Earlier this year, Vanessa was told by her Celebrity Big Brother pal Ulrika Jonsson she is in the "best shape" following her split from Ben Ofoedu.
Ulrika, 55, who told her on her Talk TV show: "Yes, well that often happens and I think that's the case in my life – the time's when I've been my skinniest is when I've not been my happiest.
"But, actually what you should remember is that you are in your best... you're like the fittest you've ever been, the best looking and you're in the greatest shape!"
