JADE THIRLWALL REVEALS RARE CONDITION THAT STOPS HER BURPING

Jade Thirlwall, formerly of Little Mix and now a solo artist, has revealed she has Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction, a condition that stops her burping. She disclosed the diagnosis in the comments of a TikTok video by content creator Gemma Renwick, who posts regularly about the condition. Thirlwall wrote that she felt "seen and understood" after watching the video. She said the condition, known as R-CPD, has "caused issues" throughout her life. She added that she is "sick of" people commenting on her weight and body onstage when she is simply bloated.

According to the National Library of Medicine, R-CPD is characterised by an inability to burp, with symptoms including bloating, gurgling and flatulence. Thirlwall said she would like a botox treatment, referred to as "throtox", which targets the cricopharyngeus muscle to relax the upper oesophageal sphincter and release trapped gas. She said she fears it could affect her vocal cords. Renwick has already had the treatment and has launched a petition calling for greater NHS recognition of R-CPD. Thirlwall has shared the petition, which had nearly 5,000 signatures and calls on the government to review treatment options.

A spokesperson for NHS England told BBC News in 2023 that clinical evidence on the condition remains "extremely limited", citing the small number of people who have identified themselves as affected. The spokesperson said NHS staff follow guidance set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, known as NICE. Thirlwall has previously discussed her health, telling BBC Radio 1's Life Hacks podcast in 2019 that she struggled with anorexia as a teenager. She said she had felt "down and depressed" before competing on The X Factor in 2011.