Tina Malone reveals gastric band success

Actress Tina Malone has claimed that having a gastric band fitted is the "best thing" she has done in her life.

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant, who recently wed 28-year-old Paul Chase, has lost over 7st with the assistance of two gastric operations. Malone underwent the surgery after discovering that she was 9st overweight.

"I felt terrible about my life," she told Closer magazine. "It's such a myth that fat people are jolly and full of fun - just rubbish. They look terrible and they feel crap about themselves."

She continued: "It's been fantastic to see my body change.My belly's shrunk so much and I've started to get a waist. I was so rotund before, I couldn't fold my arms easily. The only problem now is that I've got excess skin. I've decided to do something about that though, and I'm planning a boob, neck and tummy tuck."

Malone, 47, also revealed that she would consider having IVF treatment to have a child with Chase, claiming that her life had been massively improved by her recent surgery.

"Everything from sex to walking the dog feels different because I have more energy and feel so much better about myself," she said. "The gastric band is the best thing I've done in my entire life."