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Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Josie Gibson reveals the unusual way she discovered she was suffering from a medieval health condition while filming luxury travel show
Her new luxurious travel show was almost derailed when she discovered she had gout. And Josie Gibson has now revealed how she found out she was suffering from the medieval condition when she went for a health MOT ahead of her next TV challenge The 1970s Diet. She told OK! magazine: 'I kept saying to the nurse, "my toes keep hurting". I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life. 'Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout.' The illness is a type of arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the big toes, feet, wrists and ankles, affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK. Cases are on the rise, with the number surging by about four per cent each year. Josie put the diagnosis down to her time shooting Around The World In First Class, a Channel 5 travelogue which sees her take 12 first class flights and private jet trips and stay in rooms worth more than £15,000 ($20,000) per night in the likes of the Middle East and the Caribbean. Her luxurious travel show Around The World In First Class was almost derailed when she discovered she had the medieval condition through complaining about painful toes Blood tests gave the shock diagnosis after spending weeks living in luxury, sipping champagne and tucking into Michelin-starred meals. Gout is often associated with wealthy historical figures, including Henry VIII and Benjamin Franklin, who were known to enjoy alcohol and red meats, both of which are high in purines which cause the illness. More recently, actor Jared Leto was diagnosed with gout after rapidly gaining more than four stone (26kg) for the role of Mark David Chapman in the film Chapter 27 in 2007. Comedians James Corden, 46, and Jack Whitehall, 36, are also among celebrities who have suffered with it in recent years. Josie confirmed she is now gout free after returning to a less lavish diet. 'As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it leveled itself out,' she said. And her health took a turn in another direction after she took part in The 1970s diet and ate boiled potatoes, liver and spam. Josie explained that she did not expect the diet to send her weight plummeting and was shocked to hear that just 10 per cent of people in the 70s were obese, compared with triple the amount today. Despite being restricted to a smaller 70s-style plate, Josie did not hold out much hope for the liver and extensive carbs which filled it. The show explained that people in that decade were often healthier as, on average, they did more housework and tasks without gadgets, leading to a more active lifestyle. Ahead of the experiment, Josie underwent a health check-up which revealed she weighed 16 stone (102kg) and had a 48 per cent body fat figure. The TV personality was pleased with her fitness levels, which were judged to be at a 'superior' rating, helped out by the fact Josie works out regularly. She explained that she is able to 'run rings' around friends of hers, even if they are thinner than her. Josie wheeled her shopping bag to the butchers and bakers for the show, took part in a disco-style exercise class, and even picked out a set of vintage clothes in order to look the part. Despite heaping praise on the era's style, the former I'm A Celebrity contestant was dismayed when she realised her modern day clothes sizes did not fit her. It was explained to Josie that brands these days make their clothes bigger for a given size in a bid to make consumers feel better. The star has fluctuated between size eight and 22 over the years, but admitted she feels her best when she can fit into size 12-14 clothes. Josie said that she would not consider taking weight-loss jabs, despite lots of her friends using them. The star revealed that the experiment taught her a great deal, particularly that her son Reggie, seven, was slightly lazy and often preferred to go to the shops by car. She also heaped praise on the tight-knit nature of 1970s families, and lifted the lid on her next show which is set to be about biohacking. Josie has been open about her weight in the past and previously admitted she's 'never happy with her body' and would like to 'lose a bit of timber'. The This Morning favourite told MailOnline in December that she wanted to get 'back in the gym so she can enjoy herself at Christmas' and said her recent weight loss had been down to being busy at work. Josie has said she's finally feeling happier. when it comes to her looks She said: 'I have literally been so busy. I've been here, there and everywhere, I'm working. Josie previously explained that she used to cry on a regular basis after being trolled over her weight following her Big Brother win in 2010 'But I've got to fit the gym time in. 'I'm working up to the 21st, but all next week I'm putting a dedicated time to get that bloody gym and get myself in just so I can lose a little bit of weight to enjoy myself for Christmas. 'I've been, you know, over the years, you put so much stress on yourself - like I'm never happy, never happy. 'But now I'm just really busy, but I would like to lose a bit of timber, but I'm happy with myself. And that that's the main thing, 'It's like a home renovation, your body, isn't it? So I always need a little bit of progress. I always need to paint a room.' Josie previously revealed that she used to cry on a regular basis after being trolled over her weight following her Big Brother win in 2010. In 2014, the star shared that she lost six stone (38kg) over the course of a year, going from a size 20 to a size eight. And in 2023, ahead of her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, the presenter revealed she'd slimmed down from a size 18 to a 14 after hiring a personal trainer. WHAT IS GOUT? Gout is a form of arthritis that can be extremely painful. Agonising attacks come on very quickly, often during the night. It affects around two per cent of people in the UK and 8.3 million in the US. Gout was once thought to be caused by overeating and drinking excessively, however, that is not the whole story. The condition occurs due to a build up of uric acid, which can be because a person's kidneys cannot get rid of the substance quickly enough. Over time, uric-acid crystals can form in and around the joints, which can trigger severe inflammation that usually settles within a week. In any day, about three-quarters of the urate in our bodies comes from the breakdown of purines produced within our body, while only about a quarter comes from the breakdown of purines in food and drink we consume. Foods and drinks high in purines include: Alcohol Red meat and offal Oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon Foods rich in yeast extract, like Marmite and Bovril As well as pain, symptoms can include joints being: Red Hot Swollen Shiny Without treatment, gout attacks can become more frequent, with more joints being affected. The two most common painkillers used to treat gout are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, and colchicine. You don't need to face arthritis alone. Our advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support for you. Call 0800 5200 520 for free today (Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm)
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Josie Gibson treated her medieval health condition with celebrity-adored holistic retreat after shock diagnosis
Josie Gibson shocked fans when she revealed she had been diagnosed with a medieval health condition - but the scare was a motivator for the star. The This Morning presenter, 40, revealed on Tuesday that she was suffering from gout after filming a travel show where she sampled first class air travel, living a life of luxury. After filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class, Josie went for a health MOT ahead of her next TV challenge The 1970s Diet, where she was told she had gout. She told Bella magazine that she was 'embarrassed' when she received the shock diagnosis and thought only medieval royalty and old men were at risk of the condition. But it inspired her to embark on a health kick for herself and her young son Reggie, and she is now feeling better than ever. 'I got a bit of a health scare while filming this show [The 1970s Diet] so it knocked me into submission a bit,' she said. Josie said that her busy life as a travelling TV presenter saw her getting just four to five hours of sleep a night, but after prioritising getting the recommended eight or nine, she feels 'like a totally different human being'. 'I've said no to a lot of work for my own health benefits,' she said. 'I'm spending more time at home and I'm prioritising my son and my health.' Amid her health kick, Josie headed to Andalucia, Spain, to spend time at The Body Camp's newly-launched retreat there. Joining a group of other health-conscious reatreaters, Josie spent a week hiking, doing yoga, meditation and practicing mindfulness. Her personalised diet whilst at the retreat included a virbant plant-forward menu whilst she started her day with dawn yoga sessions and sunrise hikes. Sharing a clip from her week in the sun, Josie wrote: 'Beautiful time reconnecting with myself at the @thebodycampofficial a big thank you to @misskwhale @benwhalechef @rickparcellnow @ they have just launched in Andalucia and the scenery is absolutely stunning. 'Big thank you to my lovely body camp group. What an uplifting inspirational group of people. 'One week of training, hikes, yoga, and eating the most gorgeous nutritious food, mindful coaching is just what I needed. What an Easter treat!' Since launching in Ibiza in 2015, The Body Camp has run fitness and wellness experiences in Mallorca, Bali, Morocco and rural Somerset, with two new destinations for 2025l Thailand's Koh Samui and Andalucia. Guests receive fitness training and coaching, personal development and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), yoga, meditation, breath work, nutritional education and mindfulness in a bid to feel healthier. The retreat Josie jetted to in Spain took place in a secluded rural hideaway, set in a serene Andalucian valley, offering 360 degree panoramic views of the captivating El Torcal mountains - perfect for dawn yoga and guided meditation. There are miles of on-the-doorstep hiking and cycling terrain - including the famous Caminito Del Ray - as well as a vast outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lush landscaping and a shaded poolside training gym and circuits set up. Gout, a type of arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the big toes, feet, wrists and ankles, affects an estimated 1.5million people in the UK. Cases are on the rise, with the number surging by about four per cent each year. TV personality Josie said her toes had been hurting her throughout filming for Around The World In First Class, which is available on 5's streaming service and sees Josie take 12 first class flights and private jet trips and stay in rooms worth more than $20,000 per night in the likes of the Middle East and the Caribbean. She said of her diagnosis: 'I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life. 'Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout.' Josie had been enjoying the enviable lifestyle of drinking champagne and tucking in to rich food in Michelin-starred restaurants. Blood tests gave the shock diagnosis, after spending weeks living in luxury. Gout is often associated with wealthy historical figures, including Henry VIII and Benjamin Franklin, who were known to enjoy alcohol and red meats, both of which are high in purines which cause the illness. More recently, actor Jared Leto was diagnosed with gout after rapidly gaining more than four stone (26kg) for the role of Mark David Chapman in the film Chapter 27 in 2007. Comedians James Corden, 46, and Jack Whitehall, 36, are also among celebrities who have suffered with it in recent years. Josie confirmed she is now gout free after returning to a less lavish diet. 'As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it levelled itself out,' she said. The star has fluctuated between size eight and 22 over the years, but admitted she feels her best when she can fit into size 12-14 clothes. Josie said that she would not consider taking weight-loss jabs, despite lots of her friends using them. Josie told MailOnline in December that she wanted to get 'back in the gym so she can enjoy herself at Christmas' and said her recent weight loss had been down to being busy at work. 'I've said no to a lot of work for my own health benefits,' she said. 'I'm spending more time at home and I'm prioritising my son and my health' The star (pictured, left, in August, and right in 2022) has fluctuated between size eight and 22 over the years, but admitted she feels her best when she can fit into size 12-14 clothes Josie has said she's finally feeling happier. when it comes to her looks. She said: 'I have literally been so busy. I've been here, there and everywhere, I'm working. But I've got to fit the gym time in. 'I'm working up to the 21st, but all next week I'm putting a dedicated time to get that bloody gym and get myself in just so I can lose a little bit of weight to enjoy myself for Christmas. 'I've been, you know, over the years, you put so much stress on yourself - like I'm never happy, never happy. 'But now I'm just really busy, but I would like to lose a bit of timber, but I'm happy with myself. And that that's the main thing, 'It's like a home renovation, your body, isn't it? So I always need a little bit of progress. I always need to paint a room.'
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
From a deadly brush with typhoid to a shock scurvy diagnosis - the stars who have suffered from medieval diseases - just like Josie Gibson
From scurvy to gout, there are many historic diseases that people would confine to the likes of Henry VIII - but can still affect people today. Josie Gibson shocked fans this week when she revealed she is suffering from a medieval disease after filming a travel show where she sampled first class cabins. After filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class, the presenter, 40, went for a health MOT ahead of her next TV challenge. When having the check-up ahead of filming the 1970s Diet, she was surprised to find she had gout - often associated with the Tudor King and Benjamin Franklin. The This Morning star isn't the only celebrity to be diagnosed with conditions historically associated with the Middle Ages, including scurvy and polio. Robbie Williams previously revealed he contracted scurvy after using an appetite suppressant, while Zac Efron had a brush with death after getting typhoid. Additionally, some celebrities have been open about their struggles with diseases like quinsy and malaria. Robbie Williams - scurvy The hitmaker (pictured in 2013) previously credited his two stone weight loss to an appetite suppressant but has revealed the drug led to him becoming malnourished In April Robbie revealed that he was diagnosed with scurvy after he stopped eating while taking an appetite-suppressant drug. The Rock DJ singer, 51, has spoken out about his various health battles over the past year, revealing the physical affects of a weight loss drug. Explaining that he lost two stone whilst on the medication, Robbie admitted it also led to an unusual diagnosis. 'I'd stopped eating and I wasn't getting nutrients,' he said, explaining he was undernourished and lacking in vitamin C, leading to scurvy which he dubbed: 'A 17th-century pirate disease.' He added that his decades-long battle with body dysmorphia meant he misconstrued concerned comments from loved ones. 'With body dysmorphia, when people say they're worried about how you're looking, you're like: 'I've achieved it.' When people say, 'We're worried you're too thin,' that goes into my head as 'Jackpot. I've reached the promised land',' Robbie told The Mirror. Robbie previously credited his two stone weight loss to 'something like Ozempic', sharing in a 2023 interview that he'd gone from weighing 13st 13lb to 12st 1lb while using an appetite suppressant. Robbie explained that being overweight is 'shockingly catastrophic' for his mental health. The popstar, who was once dubbed 'Blobby Williams,' described how mean his inner voice can be when he isn't slim, telling The Times: 'Babe, I'm on Ozempic... Well, something like Ozempic. It's like a Christmas miracle. I've gone from 13st 13lb to 12st 1lb. 'And I need it, medically. I've been diagnosed with type 2 self-loathing. 'It's shockingly catastrophic to my mental health to be bigger. My inner voice talks to me like Katie Hopkins talks about fat people. It's maddening.' Zac Efron - typhoid In 2019 Zac opened up about his brush with death saying he bounced back quickly after contracting a life-threatening illness while filming a survival show in Papua New Guinea. He took to Instagram at the time and shared a snap with children from his time in Papua New Guinea. He captioned it: 'Very thankful to everyone who has reached out. 'I did get sick in Papua New Guinea but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing 3 weeks in P.N.G. 'I'm home for the holidays with my friends and family. Thanks for all the love and concern, see you in 2020!' Efron was thought to have come down with a 'form of typhoid or similar bacterial infection' just before Christmas of that year, and was flown to Brisbane on a 'life-or-death flight' with the assistance of medical professionals. He took to Instagram at the time and shared a snap with children from his time in Papua New Guinea. He captioned it: 'Very thankful to everyone who has reached out. I did get sick in Papua New Guinea but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing 3 weeks in P.N.G.' According to The Daily Telegraph, Zac was flown to hospital in Brisbane, Australia for urgent medical treatment and was finally given the all clear to fly home to the US on Christmas Eve. He fell sick while filming the documentary series 'Killing Zac Efron', which he had begun filming at the start of December in Papua New Guinea. The series followed Zac as he went 'deep into the jungle of a remote, dangerous island, falling off the grid for 21 days.' After being flown to Brisbane, he was admitted to the private St Andrews War Memorial Hospital in Spring Hill 'in a stable condition'. There, he received treatment for several days, before being 'given the all clear' by doctors to fly home to the U.S. on Christmas Eve. Dr Glenn McKay, Director of Medical Rescue, the organisation that oversaw Efron's flight, told the newspaper he could not discuss patient information, but confirmed they 'retrieved a US citizen in his 30s from PNG to Brisbane for medical attention in Australia.' During his time filming, Efron was welcomed into the Kamanibit Village after arriving by canoe, before then travelling to the Pagwi Village. Cheryl - malaria In 2010 Cheryl was left fighting for her life after contracting malaria following a trip to Tanzania. Four years later she was part of fundraising efforts for Sport Relief where she spoke about her health woes. At the time she said: 'When I climbed Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief five years ago it was honestly one of the hardest things I've ever done. 'The motivation lay in knowing it could help in eradicating malaria and ultimately saving lives by providing mosquito nets.' Cheryl continued: 'I didn't for one minute think that only a year later I would get malaria myself and become so ill that at one point I was given 24 hours to live. 'I was lucky; I had the best care I could get. Some people are not so lucky. A £5 mosquito net could keep a child safe and really does help. 'I've decided to speak out about this again now because having experienced it, it's obviously very close to my heart and I want people to know how easy it is to help.' Four years later she was part of fundraising efforts for Sport Relief where she spoke about her health woes Doctors ordered Cheryl to stop exercising and put on weight after the health scare that almost killed her. And the svelte star – who was given just 24 hours to live at one point after contracting malaria – had no choice but to obey them to beat the illness. 'I just ate everything,' she said at the time. She revealed how being ill had changed her priorities. 'It opened my eyes to health and things I hadn't focused on before,' she said. 'It's now less about work, work, work and more about making time to chill and be with my friends and family.' Cheryl caught malaria while on holiday in Tanzania with American dancer Derek Hough in June 2010. Rebel Wilson - malaria Last year Rebel opened up about a terrifying brush with death that occurred when she was a teen. The Hollywood actress, now 45, revealed the trauma happened when she contracted malaria at age 18 while travelling through Mozambique. She said that she caught the life threatening disease after being bitten by 'hundreds' of mosquitos. 'When I was 18, I got malaria. I woke up one morning in an African bush and I had like 100 mosquito bites on my face,' the Bridesmaids star said in an interview with Us Weekly. 'I was in hospital for two weeks, she added. 'I could have died from it, it was very, very bad.' Elsewhere in the chat, Rebel joked that the incident was part of why she suffers from 'bugs-xiety'. 'I have always had bugs-xiety … [since] growing up in Australia, where we have a lot of bugs,' she said. Discussing the frightening experience back in 2019, Rebel said she failed to take precautions against contracting malaria - which is transmitted via mosquito bites. She was working with a charity in Africa at the time when caught malaria which can present symptoms such as high fever, and seizures. 'They tried to give me pills but I heard they can cause mental problems - so I ended up being the stupid person who got it (malaria),' she said in an episode of the Aussies in Hollywood podcast. Mia Farrow - polio Mia contracted polio when she was nine years old, in the summer of 1954, and now campaigns for vaccination programmes. In her memoir, What Falls Away, she shared her childhood experience of surviving polio. And talking about the ordeal to the New York Post, back in 2000, she said: 'I perhaps am more motivated than most people because I had polio myself. 'And it was a real struggle to come through it; what I saw will never leave me — in the hospitals and in the public wards for contagious diseases.' Mia has worked on polio vaccination campaigns around the world and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In a previous Tweet, she has said: 'The year after I had polio, a new vaccine was released. Parents rushed to get their kids vaccinated. 'Polio is now gone from our country [America] and most of the world... It was a gift - a blessing.' Polio is a serious infection that's now very rare because of the vaccination programme. It's only found in a few countries and the chance of getting it in the UK is extremely low. The polio vaccine is part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule. Rhian Sugden - quinsy In March this year Rhian shared the distressing news that she had quinsy - a 'Victorian disease' that left her in 'absolute agony'. The lingerie model, 38, admitted that even though she has a 'quite a high pain threshold', the discomfort she was feeling is 'something else'. In a follow-up post, she shared a photograph of herself in a hospital room to let fans know that her health had taken yet another turn. She said: 'So I've just been back to the doctors because my throat is in absolute agony. I think I've got quite a high pain threshold, but this is something else. 'I've got Quinsy. I thought that was a Victorian disease, but oh my god, if anyone's ever had it, oh god, I can't even. It hurts to even open my mouth.' Rhian captioned the hospital snap of herself: 'Quinsy: 1, Rhian: 0'. The NHS describes quinsy as a bacterial infection that starts in one tonsil then spreads to the space around the tonsil 'pushing the tonsil inwards and making the soft palate bulge.' Those with the illness, which responds well to antibiotics, typically struggle to open their mouths more than a centimetre or two. Measles, meanwhile, is a viral infection, also common in children, that's characterised by a distinct rash, fever, and cough. Both illnesses can be passed from person to person. Josie Gibson - gout This week Josie revealed she is suffering from a medieval disease after filming a new travel show where she sampled first class cabins. After filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class, the presenter, 40, went for a health MOT ahead of her next TV challenge The 1970s Diet, where she was told she had gout. Gout, a type of arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the big toes, feet, wrists and ankles, affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK. Cases are on the rise, with the number surging by about four per cent each year. The TV personality said her toes had been hurting her throughout the show, which is available on 5's streaming service and sees Josie take 12 first class flights and private jet trips and stay in rooms worth more than $20,000 per night in the likes of the Middle East and the Caribbean. She said: 'I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life. 'Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout.' Josie had been enjoying the enviable lifestyle of drinking champagne and tucking in to rich food in Michelin-starred restaurants. Blood tests gave the shock diagnosis, after spending weeks living in luxury. Gout is often associated with wealthy historical figures, including Henry VIII and Benjamin Franklin, who were known to enjoy alcohol and red meats, both of which are high in purines which cause the illness. More recently, actor Jared Leto was diagnosed with gout after rapidly gaining more than four stone (26kg) for the role of Mark David Chapman in the film Chapter 27 in 2007. Comedians James Corden, 46, and Jack Whitehall, 36, are also among celebrities who have suffered with it in recent years. Josie confirmed she is now gout free after returning to a less lavish diet. 'As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it leveled itself out,' she said. And her health took a turn in another direction after she took part in the show The 1970s diet and ate boiled potatoes, liver and spam. 'I've come from one extreme to the other,' Josie added. 'I went from living my finest life ever to being brought down to earth with a bang.' WHAT IS GOUT? Gout is a form of arthritis that can be extremely painful. Agonising attacks come on very quickly, often during the night. It affects around two per cent of people in the UK and 8.3 million in the US. Gout was once thought to be caused by overeating and drinking excessively, however, that is not the whole story. The condition occurs due to a build up of uric acid, which can be because a person's kidneys cannot get rid of the substance quickly enough. Over time, uric-acid crystals can form in and around the joints, which can trigger severe inflammation that usually settles within a week. In any day, about three-quarters of the urate in our bodies comes from the breakdown of purines produced within our body, while only about a quarter comes from the breakdown of purines in food and drink we consume. Foods and drinks high in purines include: Alcohol Red meat and offal Oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon Foods rich in yeast extract, like Marmite and Bovril As well as pain, symptoms can include joints being: Red Hot Swollen Shiny Without treatment, gout attacks can become more frequent, with more joints being affected. The two most common painkillers used to treat gout are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, and colchicine. You don't need to face arthritis alone. Our advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support for you. Call 0800 5200 520 for free today (Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm)
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The 6 signs of Medieval ‘old man' disease that triggers hot attacks and deformities – as Josie Gibson reveals diagnosis
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOR centuries, gout has been shrugged off by many as a rich, wine-guzzling old man's disease. And when Henry VIII was diagnosed, it became firmly entrenched in popular belief as 'a tudor disease'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 6 Josie Gibson is among the two in every 100 people in the UK who are affected by gout Credit: Rex The truth is, gout doesn't discriminate - it can strike anyone, regardless of gender, wealth, age, or lifestyle. Around one to two in every 100 people in the UK are thought to have gout - and cases are on the rise. The most recent data, from 2013 found the prevalence of people diagnosed with gout in the UK rose by 64 per cent between 1997 and 2012. Obesity, fatty foods and fizzy drinks have been blamed. One of these is TV personality Josie Gibson, who has recently opened up about suffering from the agonising ailment. The This Morning presenter was diagnosed after filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class where she sampled the delights of travelling in style. "I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life," Josie, 40, recalled. "Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout." Josie is one of many famous faces to have suffered from the condition in recent years. In January, The Sun exclusively revealed Gavin and Stacey star, James Corden, had struggled with the illness, Gok Wan reveals he's got gout during This Morning segment by wearing slippers Meanwhile, TV personality Jack Whitehall spoke about developing pre-gout during a conversation with Jamie Laing on The Great Company podcast. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by excessive uric acid in the blood. It causes tiny, needle-like crystals to form in the joints, triggering inflammation that leads to pain, swelling, and redness - most commonly in the big toe. If left untreated, it can lead to joint deformities, kidney stones and even heart disease. Josie confirmed she is now gout-free after returning to a less lavish diet. "As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it levelled itself out," she said. 6 The This Morning presenter has been experiencing life of luxury Credit: Channel 5 6 Gout causes swelling, pain and redness, usually in the big toe Credit: Getty - Contributor There is no cure for gout, meaning people who have it are prone to flare-ups. These flare-ups can be triggered by foods rich in purine (the substance that creates uric acid in the blood when broken down by the body). This includes liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas and yeast-rich drinks and foods, particularly beer. Routine blood tests will usually identify excess levels of uric acid, which will alert doctors to the need for treatment. But most people won't know they have gout until they suffer a sudden, painful flare-up. Symptoms of the disease include: Severe pain in any joint (usually the big toe, fingers, wrists, elbows or knees) Red, hot or swollen skin over the affected joint. "Gout does not cause lasting damage to joints if you get treatment straight away" says the NHS Warmth in the joint area Chills and fever Deformities Hard lumps, called tophi, under your skin (can be painful) According to the NHS, if you fear you have gout, you should see a GP straight away. A recent study found that one in six sufferers of gout will experience another flare-up within 12 months. These can be prevented by taking daily doses of urate-lowering therapy drugs, of which allopurinol is the most common (it is available under several brand names including Zyloric and Uricto). The UK Gout Society also advises cutting down on foods rich in purine. Drinking plenty of water helps flush uric acid from your body, reducing the risk of crystal formation in your joints, it adds. Alongside this, lifestyle changes are necessary, such as stopping smoking, exercising more, and drinking more coffee. 6 James Cordon opened up about having gout earlier this year Credit: Getty Images - WireImage 6 TV personality Jack Whitehall has opened up about developing pre-gout Credit: Splash However, even drinking, eating and living 'well' is no guarantee of immunity. A 2018 study, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that genetics plays a more important role in the disease's development than diet. If you find yourself in the grip of an agonising attack, the most important thing is to treat the affected joint with a great deal of tender loving care. The Gout Society suggests resting the joint in an elevated position. And while regular exercise is advisable once the flare-up has subsided, it is never, ever a good idea to try to run on a gouty foot.
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The 6 signs of disabling Tudor disease that triggers ‘hot attacks' and deformities – as Josie Gibson reveals diagnosis
FOR centuries, gout has been shrugged off by many as a rich, wine-guzzling old man's disease. And when Henry VIII was diagnosed, it became firmly entrenched in popular belief as ' a tudor disease '. 6 The truth is, gout doesn't discriminate - it can strike anyone, regardless of gender, wealth, age, or lifestyle. Around one to two in every 100 people in the UK are thought to have gout - and cases are on the rise. The most recent data, from 2013 found the prevalence of people diagnosed with gout in the UK rose by 64 per cent between 1997 and 2012. Obesity, fatty foods and fizzy drinks have been blamed. One of these is TV personality Josie Gibson, who has recently opened up about suffering from the agonising ailment. The This Morning presenter was diagnosed after filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class where she sampled the delights of travelling in style. "I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life," Josie, 40, recalled. "Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout." Josie is one of many famous faces to have suffered from the condition in recent years. In January, The Sun exclusively revealed Gavin and Stacey star, James Corden, had struggled with the illness, Gok Wan reveals he's got gout during This Morning segment by wearing slippers Meanwhile, TV personality Jack Whitehall spoke about developing pre-gout during a conversation with Jamie Laing on The Great Company podcast. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by excessive uric acid in the blood. It causes tiny, needle-like crystals to form in the joints, triggering inflammation that leads to pain, swelling, and redness - most commonly in the big toe. If left untreated, it can lead to joint deformities, kidney stones and even heart disease. Josie confirmed she is now gout-free after returning to a less lavish diet. "As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it levelled itself out," she said. 6 There is no cure for gout, meaning people who have it are prone to flare-ups. These flare-ups can be triggered by foods rich in purine (the substance that creates uric acid in the blood when broken down by the body). This includes liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas and yeast-rich drinks and foods, particularly beer. Routine blood tests will usually identify excess levels of uric acid, which will alert doctors to the need for treatment. But most people won't know they have gout until they suffer a sudden, painful flare-up. Symptoms of the disease include: Severe pain in any joint (usually the big toe, fingers, wrists, elbows or knees) Red, hot or swollen skin over the affected joint. "Gout does not cause lasting damage to joints if you get treatment straight away" says the NHS Warmth in the joint area Chills and fever Deformities Hard lumps, called tophi, under your skin (can be painful) According to the NHS, if you fear you have gout, you should see a GP straight away. A recent study found that one in six sufferers of gout will experience another flare-up within 12 months. These can be prevented by taking daily doses of urate-lowering therapy drugs, of which allopurinol is the most common (it is available under several brand names including Zyloric and Uricto). The UK Gout Society also advises cutting down on foods rich in purine. Drinking plenty of water helps flush uric acid from your body, reducing the risk of crystal formation in your joints, it adds. Alongside this, lifestyle changes are necessary, such as stopping smoking, exercising more, and drinking more coffee. 6 6 However, even drinking, eating and living 'well' is no guarantee of immunity. A 2018 study, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that genetics plays a more important role in the disease's development than diet. If you find yourself in the grip of an agonising attack, the most important thing is to treat the affected joint with a great deal of tender loving care. The Gout Society suggests resting the joint in an elevated position. And while regular exercise is advisable once the flare-up has subsided, it is never, ever a good idea to try to run on a gouty foot. The lesser known symptoms of gout While gout is commonly associated with joint pain and swelling, there are several lesser-known symptoms that may not immediately be linked to the condition Dr Hilary Jones, a TV medic shares the signs to watch out for: Thick nails: Chronic gout can cause changes in the nails of the affected fingers or toes due to tophi – deposits of uric acid crystals under the skin. These deposits can result in discolored or thickened nails as they build up. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Men with gout are at a higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction, with studies suggesting they may experience more severe cases. This is thought to be related to the systemic inflammation and vascular problems associated with gout. Pain at nightime: Gout attacks often occur at night, causing sharp, intense pain that disrupts sleep. Even outside of flare-ups, some individuals experience ongoing joint discomfort or sensitivity that worsens during the night. Itchy or peeling skin around the joint: After a severe flare-up, the skin over the affected joint may peel or flake, often accompanied by itchiness. This happens as inflammation subsides and the body works to repair the damaged skin. Chronic fatigue: Though primarily a joint condition, gout can leave sufferers feeling unusually tired or drained. Many report low energy or a general sense of malaise before or during an attack, further impacting their daily activities.
