BROADCAST regulators have put Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly in the clear over comments she made on her ITV show that gastric band surgery was an "easy option" for people to lose weight.

Almost 20 objections were lodged with Ofcom after Kelly’s comments on her Lorraine programme in which she also said the procedure allowed people to “guzzle deep fried lard”.

But after assessing the complaints Ofcom has decided not to take further action over any alleged breach Section 2 of the Broadcasting Code relating to protecting members of the publci from harmful and/or offensive material.

Glasgow-born Kelly, 56, made the comments last month as she discussed a Bristol University study that claimed 10 times as many gastric band procedures should be taking place on the health service than there are at present. It would mean around 1,000 surgeries a week, or 50,000 a year, to help battle the UK's obesity crisis.

She is a high profile supporter of using fitness to lose weight and revealed in 2014 that she had been attending Zumba classes to drop her dress sizes from 14 to a 10.

Kelly told the show it would “cost a fortune” to carry out what the study suggested, but its authors claimed it would save money in the long run.

Her guest, Dr Hilary Jones, had argued that if too many had gastric band surgery it would bankrupt the NHS but also argued why there needed to spend money on the surgeries when the money might be better spent on stopping people becoming obese in the first place.

“People can lose the weight through natural means rather than invasive...surgery. So why not address that and help everybody to stop getting fat in the first place.”

Kelly replied in the show that aired on May 12: “Don’t you think it is giving people the easy option. Oh, it’s okay, I will just guzzle deep fried lard because someone will just come along and give me an operation, so it’s fine. Some people have a weird relationship with food and you’ve got to get to the root of that.

“Crazy, absolutely crazy.”

Ofcom has now said: "We assessed a number of complaints following a discussion about obesity in the UK, but did not take the matter forward for investigation.

"Lorraine Kelly's views were part of a wider discussion touching on the need to prevent obesity earlier in life, and the cost implications of providing gastric surgery to everyone who is eligible for it. We concluded that overall there was sufficient editorial context to justify any offence caused by Lorraine Kelly's comments."

One complainer Layla Whitehouse said after it was broadcast: “I think you need to re-think your choice of words! Disgusting way to talk about people having a weight loss operation!!!!!”

The researchers had found that those who go under the knife can transform their lives with spectacular weight loss and a return to employment.

The Herald:

But of the 2.6 million people who they claimed qualify for gastric band surgery, according to the NHS’s own guidelines, only one per cent actually receive the treatment.

The study said that from the 22 controlled trials they conducted they found bariatric surgery to be more effective and cost effective for the treatment of severe obesity than non-surgical measures after two years.

Professor Jane Blazeby (above), co-director of the University of Bristol’s Centre for Surgical Research, defended the study’s findings.

The Herald:

She said: “In many cases bariatric surgery is the right choice for many people who have severe and complex obesity. It improves their quality of life and often enables them to achieve things that had become impossible.

Kelly, 56, who has been a staple of breakfast TV for over two decades - recently showed off onned a bright pink bikini for a splash-around in the pool to encourage her fans to get ready for the summer with “Bikini Promise + One”, saying: “If I can do it, then you can too”.

The ITV presenter’s campaign calls on viewers to get together with their “plus one” – a friend or partner – and support each other to get fit and healthy with a summer food and fitness plan.