The cosmetic makeover programme Arani Issa! will be back on our screens next Wednesday on TVM at 8.30pm. This time, there will be more stories to tell, and more people’s dreams will come true as Dr Joseph Chetcuti (pictured right), together with Transforma, follow the steps of each participant as they transform their lives.

First on Arani Issa’s list is Josanne Cassar, a Maths teacher, who is finally taking care of her appearance. It is difficult to imagine her at her original weight of 137kg, for she has lost more than 40kg. Her secret was sheer will power, coupled with a healthy eating plan, an exercise regime and gastric banding. Gastric banding is carried out by keyhole surgery during which neither the stomach nor intestine is operated on. There are several different types of gastric banding operations but basically a hollow silastic band is placed around the upper part of the stomach. This gives a small upper part and a larger lower part. The smaller part limits the amount of food that a person can eat at one time and reduces the appetite. It appears that the discomforts of this procedure are heavily outweighed by its benefits. And Josanne herself says, it was not long before she was back at school, teaching her students. It was not just aesthetics which had got to her, but the scary possibility that her health was deteriorating due to obesity.

A wife and mother of five boys with a full-time job, the obvious question is, how did Josanne do it? How did she keep up her twice-weekly appointments at the gym with such a large workload? Her answer was particularly striking: her fear of her joints not being able to support her in the future, the fear of all disease associated with obesity did the trick. She was intent on watching her family grow, and being fully independent. Of course the sheer joy that weight loss brings was an added benefit. And viewers will see the transformation before their very own eyes.

Also on next Wednesday’s programme is Jodie, a young lady from Gozo who is on the list of Arani Issa!’s new group for weight management. The sheer determination of this young lady is surprising; she has even left her job to be able to make the daily ferry trip from Gozo to Malta, to be able to keep up her appointments. Viewers will watch Jodie as she takes her first steps towards a healthier lifestyle, a healthier body and a brand new image.

Televoting will be open for viewers again this year, with more fantastic prizes to be won.