Just 36 per cent of people with the condition are clinically diagnosed with the condition I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Last month, Rebecca Adlington - the BBC Sports presenter and two-time Olympic gold medallist - revealed she had been been diagnosed with coeliac disease, but what exactly is it Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten, which prevents normal digestion and absorption of food, with the risk of developing serious health complications. It is driven by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. An estimated 1 in 100 people have it in the UK; however only 36 per cent with the condition are clinically diagnosed “Coeliac UK is handing in a petition to Number 10 to make sure we are heard so please sign and share the petition today.” Here is everything you need to know about the condition – from its causes and symptoms Coeliac UK says those with the disease the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten which prevents normal digestion and absorption of food with the risk of developing serious health complications One of the biggest misconceptions about the condition is that ‘it’s just a food allergy’ – but this is not the case “Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition not an allergy,” clarifies Dr Angad Dhillon a Doctify-rated consultant gastroenterologist coeliac disease leads to chronic inflammation and long-term damage to the gut.” Many people also think that only children can be affected but you can develop coeliac disease at any age many cases are only identified in adulthood sometimes after years of unexplained symptoms,” says Dhillon the disease can be triggered by factors such as stress especially in people who experience mild or atypical symptoms.” Symptoms of coeliac disease range from mild to severe and can vary between individuals and neurological symptoms like tingling or numbness “It can also cause skin rashes like dermatitis herpetiformis.” some people with the condition experience no obvious symptoms “Silent coeliac disease is when some people experience no symptoms but still suffer from damage to the intestine,” explains Dhillon undiagnosed or untreated coeliac disease can result in complications such as osteoporosis “The risk of developing coeliac disease is higher for individuals who have a first-degree relative (parent or child) with coeliac disease or have another autoimmune condition such as type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid disease or for people who have have certain genetic conditions like Down syndrome or Turner syndrome,” says Dhillon can also increase your risk of developing the condition “Nearly all people with coeliac disease have either the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 gene though not everyone with these genes will develop the disease,” says Dhillon Coeliac UK recommends that individuals with symptoms visit their GP for a blood test to check for antibodies which can indicate coeliac disease If the test is positive or if there is a clinical suspicion of the condition a gut biopsy is typically performed to confirm the diagnosis “Endoscopy and biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis,” says Dhillon “An endoscopy allows doctors to examine the small intestine and take a biopsy to check for villous atrophy but it can be effectively managed through diet “Strict life-long adherence to a gluten-free diet is the only way to manage coeliac disease,” says Dr Sammie Gill registered gastroenterologist dietitian at gut probiotic supplement maker Symprove “Most people will notice an improvement in symptoms on a gluten-free diet.” some people might still experience persistent gut-related symptoms despite adhering to a strict gluten-free diet “In this scenario, they might benefit from IBS management approaches such as the low-FODMAP diet,” says Gill. Those with Coeliac disease struggle to digest gluten Showbiz Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Great British Bake Off finalist Laura Adlington has shared her “miracle” pregnancy news after nine years of struggling to conceive The 36-year-old baker from Gravesend, Kent, reached the final of the Channel 4 cooking competition series in 2020 with Peter Sawkins becoming the youngest ever winner She previously opened up about her ferility journey with her husband Matt in 2022 when she was told by doctors to lose 14 stone to qualify for IVF Adlington said that she had tried to lose weight and even considered weight loss surgery but came to the conclusion that it was not the right decision for her she confirmed that she is pregnant with their first child and are expecting their "IVF miracle" baby in October In the slide prior to her and Matt holding up images of ultra sound pictures, Adlington began her social media post with a trigger warning to people currently struggling to have children and told them to “mute and unfollow” her if her update was “painful” The body confidence influencer then detailed her “really long and lonely road” to starting a family after initially having “made peace” with the idea that they may not be able to have children She then explained how they had decided to "quietly give IVF a try" about a year and a half ago, keeping their fertility journey private until now Adlington added: “We had an unsuccessful round and a cancelled round and then found out a couple of months ago that I was finally pregnant “I’ll be sharing a bit more over the coming weeks about our journey to get here but for now we’re just really excited to share our news with you all The Go Love Yourself podcast host’s 460k were quick to offer their congratulations Xxx” wrote fellow podcaster Giovanna Fletcher Cybex Gazelle S single to double pram review Best children's desk chairs: Top picks for comfort and style How Give Your Best aims to solve clothing poverty in the UK “Bake Off star John Whaite was equally as enthusiastic Strictly Come Dancing star and comedian Ellie Taylor wrote: “Oh SISTER!! Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Shan Ally BAKE Off star Laura Adlington has revealed she's pregnant with her first child The TV star shared the happy news with her fans on social media on Sunday Laura said she and her husband Matt were expecting a 'miracle' baby after nine years of infertility and being told to lose 14st The star admitted she had "quietly decided to give IVF a try" over the last year She shared a photo of her smiling alongside Matt while holding a baby scan in her hand Laura wrote: "After 9 years of infertility we are very excited (and still a bit in shock) to be expecting our little IVF miracle in October "It’s been such a really long, and to be honest lonely road to get here – something many of you will know if you’ve followed me for a while or listened to the podcast. "We’d honestly made peace with the idea that having children might not happen for us. But about a year and a half ago, we quietly decided to give IVF a try. "We kept it to ourselves and decided not to share online (or even with family) just so we didn’t put more pressure on ourselves. "I’ll be sharing a bit more over the coming weeks about our journey to get here but for now we’re just really excited to share our news with you all Laura shared her dream about becoming a mum and starting a family Two years before, Laura appeared The Great British Bake Off and made it all the way to the final but lost out to the series' youngest-ever winner Peter Sawkins The baking queen opened up about her struggles to conceive Laura previously told The Sun's Fabulous Magazine: "Unless you've gone through infertility and that heartache of really wanting it and it not happening it's the hardest thing I've ever gone through." Laura has since made a name for herself as a plus-size fashion influencer since her TV stint where she captured the nation’s heart with her baking skills and infectious personality But since then, the Kent-based star has turned her attention to something even more important: redefining beauty and body positivity As a proud curvy content creator Laura uses her platform to help women embrace their bodies being in the public eye hasn’t come without its challenges and Laura has faced her fair share of trolls with some even telling her to "go and die" “I get messages calling me a ‘fat b***h’ and a ‘fat c***’ and telling me I should diet and ‘go and die’ “[Trolling] happens and I think it’s a reflection of insecurities and jealousy but I try not to let it bother me and affect me “The ones that bother me more now are the ones that say I’m promoting obesity “That really angers me and frustrates me because it’s not true. I’m not standing in the high street signposting people to McDonald’s and telling people what to eat “There’s so many influencers that promote FAD diets Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Great Britain’s most successful female swimmer has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at the 2025 BMF All Industry Conference in June Adlington was just 19-years-old when she became a double gold medallist winning the 400m and 800m freestyle events and breaking a long-standing world record for 800m GB was not known for producing world-beating swimmers Adlington was the first woman to achieve Olympic gold in the pool for over 40 years and the first in a century to secure two wins at the same Games. Her success continued before adding to her Olympic medal tally at London 2012 with two bronze medals she has combined a media career as a BBC sports commentator and pundit with work for charities and schemes to promote swimming programme provides a best-in-class learn to swim experience for 0–11-year-olds Adlington faced her fair share of sudden and unexpected setbacks and has dealt with change and the stress that comes with this throughout her journey from sporting success to business owner. Her experience in learning to recognise and focus on what is truly important to overcome unforeseen challenges resonates with both sporting and business success This session is sponsored by Specialist Driver Resourcing said: “We are delighted to welcome Rebecca as our keynote speaker in Barcelona. Her experience in learning to recognise and focus on what is truly important to overcome unforeseen challenges resonates with both sporting and business success.” The 2025 BMF All Industry Conference is fully booked. The event takes place in Barcelona from 12 – 15 June. For merchants or suppliers that haven’t secured a place, the BMF has opened a waiting list for the event. Please email June.Upton@bmf.org.uk to be added to the waiting list. The BMF thanks headline sponsor, ACO, and key sponsors BMN, Breedon, Intact, Klipboard (formerly Kerridge Commercial Systems), Knauf, Knauf Insulation, Marsh, Polypipe, Unilin and Velux. For full information on the Conference, please visit www.bmfconference2025.co.uk Headlines Features People Video Past issues Supplements Features List Showcase Recruitment Events Awards About us Contact us Advertise with us Terms & conditions Privacy policy Double Olympic gold medallist swimmer Adlington made a plea to UK Government in a short clip explaining she has coeliac disease Rebecca Adlington revealed she has been been diagnosed with a life-changing condition in an emotional update on social media BBC Sports presenter Adlington, 36, who shot to fame as an Olympic swimmer In the video shared to Coeliac UK’s Instagram account See also: What is coeliac disease? As someone newly diagnosed with coeliac disease, I have definitely quickly learnt how vital gluten-free prescriptions are for managing this condition. “But in some areas, these prescriptions are totally being cut. “Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we’re heard, so please sign and share the petition today.” Coeliac disease - which affects about one in 100 people - is a common condition where the immune system attacks tissues when gluten found in wheat, barley and rye is eaten. It causes a range of symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating. On October 23, 2023 Adlington - a double Olympic gold medallist - announced she had miscarried daughter Harper at 20 weeks. Fellow athletes Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Adam Peaty were among those who sent messages of support. She wrote on social media: “I don’t really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20-week scan this week and they found no heartbeat. “I gave birth to our angel, Harper, on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time with her. We will forever love her and remember her always.” She previously revealed a miscarriage in August 2022 which was discovered during her 12-week scan and required emergency surgery. VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Lady Victoria Starmer Coeliac disease affects at least one in every 100 people in the UK Rebecca Adlington has made a plea to the UK government after the Team GB Olympic swimmer revealed that she has been diagnosed with coeliac disease shared a short clip on Coeliac UK’s Instagram account on Wednesday (26 March) where she shared details of the condition and highlighted a petition which is being handed to the government to raise awareness of the disease The swimmer and BBC Sports presenter said: “Hello everyone As someone newly diagnosed with coeliac disease I have definitely quickly learnt how vital gluten-free prescriptions are for managing this condition “But in some areas, these prescriptions are totally being cut. Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we're heard so please sign and share the petition today.” the charity wrote: “Our petition to protect gluten-free prescriptions has now closed we reached an outstanding 22,826 signatures. we delivered the petition directly to 10 Downing Street presenting our call for action to the UK Government supported by individuals from across the UK highlighted the importance of protecting access to gluten-free prescriptions for people with coeliac disease Among those taking part in the hand-in were supporters with first-hand experience of seeing support withdrawn in their areas who has two daughters with coeliac disease is from Hampshire & Isle of Wight which removed provision in early 2024 whilst volunteer Ceira Reading saw provision taken away by her local area of Leicestershire earlier this year “The clinical case for gluten-free prescriptions was made by healthcare professionals including Dr Anita Patel Consultant Gastroenterologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals adding her voice to this important cause. “We were proud to be joined on the famous steps of 10 Downing Street by supportive politicians including Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville who stood with us in calling for equal access to gluten free prescriptions. “We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who signed the petition helping us push this crucial cause forward and to all those who supported our campaign We will keep you updated as we work with Government officials to drive much-needed change.” The disease impacts at least one in every 100 people in the UK. Coeliac symptoms include fertility problems Symptoms are hard to pin down and vary from person to person vomiting and skin rashes immediately after eating gluten Adlington, who is from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She then won two bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics. She retired from competitive swimming in 2013. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies The cyclist has two young boys but also had a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy She spoke to fellow Olympic gold winner Rebecca Adlington who herself had miscarriages in 2023 and the year before They discussed the struggles of losing a baby as a professional athlete If you or someone you know has been affected by these issues, visit BBC Action Line for information and support ShareSave'Boring' and 'weird': Australians sum up their election in one wordThe BBC took to the streets of Sydney to ask people their thoughts on the 2025 federal election campaign. Float to live: How to stay safe in the water this weekendThe RNLI urges the public to stay safe as warmer weather hits the Welsh coast. Watch: Actor surprises man on 14,000km Australia walkBilly Whiston was called by Coronation Street star Peter Ash, whose character inspired the challenge. 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Footage captures near misses on tram tracksThe tram CCTV clips of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians were all filmed in South Yorkshire. Henry Zeffman: Reform UK wins Runcorn, but what comes next?Henry Zeffman: Reform UK wins Runcorn, but what comes next? Watch: New Runcorn and Helsby MP's victory speechReform's newest MP Sarah Pochin promises to give a voice to all of the people of Runcorn and Helsby. Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and ToriesDamian Grammaticas reports from the Runcorn and Helsby by-election count after a knife-edge victory for Reform. The BBC Sports presenter made a plea to the Government in a short clip sharing her diagnosis Rebecca Adlington has received a flood of support after revealing she has been been diagnosed with coeliac disease The BBC Sports presenter, 36, who shot to fame as an Olympic swimmer made a plea to the UK Government in a short clip sharing her diagnosis In the video shared to Coeliac UK’s Instagram account “As someone newly diagnosed with coeliac disease “Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we’re heard Coeliac disease - which affects about one in 100 people - is a common condition where the immune system attacks tissues when gluten found in wheat It causes a range of symptoms including diarrhoea In light of sharing her diagnosis and backing the campaign for gluten-free prescriptions she was inundated with messages of support underneath the video “Yes @beckadlington thanks for helping to raise awareness,” one penned “Gluten free food should be affordable and accessible to EVERYONE who needs it.” Another penned: “So good to have someone famous helping to raise awareness “Awesome to have @beckadlington backing the campaign Another wrote: “The more people raising awareness the better.” While a fellow coeliac sufferer commented: “Thanks @beckadlington for being a high profile voice Good luck with the new journey you're on and maybe one day I'll have the privilege to show you how good gf food is I’m sure people think the prescriptions are free but they aren’t free unless you qualify for another reason we just need access to them for everyone who needs it,” another penned Adlington won two Golds at Beijing and two Bronze medals four years later at London 2012 The Mansfield-born Olympian win in the Olympic 400 metres freestyle in Beijing meant she became Britain’s first female swimming gold medallist for 48 years MSPs weep in Holyrood chamber as tributes paid to minister Christina McKelvie What is coeliac disease after Rebecca Adlington diagnosed How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK She retired from the sport in 2013 and regularly appears on the BBC as a commentator Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson has advised Olympic athletes Becky Adlington and Steve Parry on the successful management buyout (MBO) of the swimming lessons business they first founded in 2012 Four-time Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington OBE and fellow Olympic swimmer Steve Parry MBE founded Swim in the wake of their respective Olympic successes providing children of all ages with a bespoke learn-to-swim programme The business delivers lessons to over 30,000 children per week Twelve of the sites are purpose-built and fully managed by the Swim team and the remaining 15 pools are based within schools and sports centres JD Gyms Group acquired a majority stake in Swim! helping to drive further growth of the business and increase access to swimming lessons provision across the UK will step away from JD and form a new owner-managed team with full control of the Swim Corporate partner Matt Noon led on the provision of legal advice to longtime clients assisted by senior associate Elizabeth Jones and apprentice solicitor Nick O’Shaughnessy Matt Noon said: “It’s fantastic news that Swim is once again back in the hands of its founders The investment in 2022 by JD Gyms Group propelled the business model forward and expanded access to swimming lessons for many more children across the UK With Amelia’s addition to the team following the MBO is now in great shape to continue its growth journey We were delighted to play a part in helping make that happen.” in 2012 was - and still is - a passion project for Becky and me and we’re excited to be back at the sharp end Matt and his team have been our go-to legal advisers for a number of years now on this journey and they played a key role again on this transaction from start to finish they gave really commercial and pragmatic advice to Becky Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson has advised the shareholders of Seneca Trade Partners on its sale to iO Partners in a deal estimated to be worth £40 million.. 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CorporateDelivering a high-quality combination of technical expertise commercial acumen and excellent client service our clients value the quality of our people our market knowledge and our commitment to achieving success for them We always aim to exceed their expectations Our highly experienced and recognised corporate team operates from our offices in Liverpool We offer our clients accessible corporate support from our experienced national and international network and specialise in advising a range of clients from large listed companies and private equity funds to smaller start-up and owner-managed businesses and management teams on the full range of transactions – both domestic and cross-border Our advice is distinctly commercial and focused on our clients’ commercial goals providing our clients with easy access to our partners on transactions We offer an innovative approach to managing client relationships and fee arrangements which sets us apart from many of our competitors that adds real value to the transaction process Copyright © 2025 Hill Dickinson LLP VAT number 108228335 Alice Fuller Health Features EditorPublished: Invalid Date rushing to the toilet and being a bit gassy - they're all things many of us brush aside every week But they can be signs of coeliac disease - an autoimmune condition that affects one in 100 people in the UK BBC presenter and retired Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington revealed this week she had been diagnosed The 36-year-old urged her followers to sign a petition for gluten free prescriptions which many people with coeliac disease rely on That's because a strict gluten free diet - one without wheat, rye and barley - is the only known way to control symptoms and prevent long-term complications And this way of eating can be expensive, so some patients get bread, flour and other products through the NHS - though prescriptions are increasingly being cut When eaten, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, which damages the gut so the body can't properly take in nutrients. The NHS says this can cause a range of gut symptoms, including: Children with coeliac disease may not grow at the expected rate and may have delayed puberty they are often dismissed as minor inconveniences And even when presented to doctors, one in four people are misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome The average length of time taken for an adult to be diagnosed with from the onset of symptoms is a staggering 13 years It means the average age to discover you have the condition is 40 to 60 A charity spokesperson said: "Some symptoms of coeliac disease may be mistaken as irritable bowel syndrome or wheat intolerance "The symptoms can also be put down to stress or getting older "It can take some time before an accurate diagnosis is made." Figures suggest only 36 per cent are currently clinically diagnosed There is no cure for coeliac disease; the only treatment is a strict gluten free diet for life it can make sufferers unwell within a few hours It can also lead to nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis, fertility problems and a rare type of cancer of the small bowel People with coeliac disease need to be so careful their food must be prepared separately to avoid cross-contamination ANYONE concerned about symptoms should speak to their GP Doctors can take a simple blood test to check for antibodies - produced by the body in response to eating gluten It is essential to continue to eat a diet that contains gluten before and during the testing process The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends having gluten in more than one meal every day for at least six weeks prior to testing or there is clinical suspicion of coeliac disease the GP will usually then refer the patient to a gastroenterologist a gut biopsy is usually carried out to confirm the diagnosis flexible tube with a light and camera at one end being inserted into the mouth and passed down to the small intestine you'll be given a local anaesthetic to numb your throat and perhaps a sedative to help you relax The gastroenterologist will pass a tiny biopsy tool through the endoscope to take samples of the lining of your small intestine The sample will then be examined under a microscope for signs of coeliac disease If you're diagnosed with coeliac disease you may also have other tests to assess how the condition has affected you Coeliac UK says: "Sources of contamination include breadcrumbs in toasters and on bread boards utensils used for spreading and spooning jam symptoms should usually start to clear up within a few weeks The amount of time the gut takes to heal varies between people and can take between six months and up to five years The health risks associated with coeliac disease are minimised as long as a gluten free diet is adhered to for life Coeliac disease is a genetic condition and runs in families Studies show that if someone in a family has the condition there is a one in 10 chance of a close relative developing the disease to finally understand why he was so tired all the time Aged 16, he noticed he always felt completely exhausted - far more so than his friends - but put it down to his busy life as a student athlete, which revolved around playing football, basketball and rugby “I’d been very active and sporty but I’d become the butt of the jokes because I’d always be napping,” the dad-of-two said “On a 20-minute car journey I’d need a sleep and I was constantly falling asleep on the sofa “For a teenager to be that fatigued wasn’t normal but I didn’t think too much of it because I was always busy doing something active “My family were saying I shouldn’t be that tired Ben, from Ipswich, Suffolk As he got older, he assumed work stress was the cause of his continued tiredness but it was becoming a dad that made him realise there was something else going on He said: “Everyone says you’re tired as a parent but mine was just different “I had stomach cramps and pains after every meal and the symptoms just got stronger “I couldn’t play with my own kids in the park like other dads could and it was heartbreaking “I realised it was nearly ten years I’d been feeling this way and I was so sick of it so I finally went to the doctor to get it investigated.” After several tests, Ben, who works as a football analyst for Wycombe Wanderers, was told he had coeliac disease in September 2022 “I had to ask the doctor to spell it for me,” he said Ben has been strictly gluten free and his symptoms have improved significantly He now has enough energy to play with his kids and feels “normal” for the first time in years The tiredness and fatigue have pretty much gone now,” he said “I’m back to being fresh – as much as a parent to a seven-month-old and a three-year-old can be “The difference between me then and me now is quite frightening WTCH HERE: GBBO stars struggle with the intense heat Great British Bake Off finalist Laura Adlington has announced she is expecting her first child with husband Matt after a nine-year struggle with infertility. The 36-year-old baker shared the joyful news on social media on Sunday, revealing they are expecting their "IVF miracle" baby in October. Laura told followers she had previously been advised to lose 14 stone before she could get pregnant. The couple decided to "quietly give IVF a try" about a year and a half ago, keeping their fertility journey private until now. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Laura Adlington (@laura.adlington) Laura described feeling "excited" but "still a bit in shock" about the pregnancy. In her Instagram post, Laura shared a photo of herself and Matt holding a baby scan. "After 9 years of infertility, we are very excited (and still a bit in shock) to be expecting our little IVF miracle in October," she wrote. She acknowledged the pain such announcements can cause to others struggling with fertility issues. Adlington shared a lengthy post about the happy update on social media "I know announcements like this can be really painful, especially if you're in the thick of waiting or grieving, so please feel free to mute or unfollow if you need to," Laura added. The GBBO star described her fertility journey as "a really long, and to be honest lonely road". Laura explained that she and Matt had "made peace with the idea that having children might not happen for us" before deciding to try IVF. The couple chose not to share their fertility treatment with family or online to avoid additional pressure. "We had an unsuccessful round and a cancelled round, and then found out a couple of months ago that I was finally pregnant," she revealed. Laura promised to share more details about their journey in the coming weeks. "We're just really excited to share our news with you all. We honestly can't believe our luck," she added. In 2022, Laura had opened up about her desire to become a mother and start a family. Laura Adlington appeared on the 2020 series of The Great British Bake Off "Unless you've gone through infertility and that heartache of really wanting it and it not happening... it's the hardest thing I've ever gone through," she previously told The Sun's Fabulous Magazine. Laura rose to fame in 2020 when she appeared on The Great British Bake Off. She impressed judges and viewers alike, making it all the way to the final of the popular baking competition. However, she ultimately lost out to Peter Sawkins, who became the show's youngest-ever winner. CloseOlympic gold-medallist Dame Laura Kenny is Britain's most successful female athlete Read more on this story: Can elite sport damage women's fertility? 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What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23 Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18 Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released She won two gold medals and set a new world record for the 800m freestyle at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 She won two bronzes at London 2012 and retired from competitive swimming in 2013 She now works as a pundit with the BBC and as a coach I didn’t think that swimming would become my profession Nobody goes into the sport believing they can earn money from it you think about what to do when you stop competing The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response It's been a remarkable 17 years since Rebecca Adlington became a household name following her stunning performance at the Beijing Olympics clinched gold in both the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyles Her victories marked her as the first woman to secure swimming gold for Team GB in almost half a century and the first British swimmer to bag more than one gold medal at a single Olympics in 100 years Adlington's star continued to rise post-Beijing European and World Championship golds added to her collection along with two bronze medals from the London Olympics in 2012 However, at the tender age of 23, she decided to retire from competitive swimming in 2013. Since then, she has carved out a successful career as a BBC pundit and dabbled in reality TV, featuring on shows like I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Celebrity MasterChef and The Jump, reports Wales Online Adlington's personal life has seen its share of challenges The former Team GB star has faced a divorce Adlington first tied the knot with Harry Needs in 2014 after meeting five years prior when they were both budding professional swimmers the couple were celebrating the arrival of their daughter they decided to part ways after an 18-month marriage Adlington shared a heartfelt statement on her website detailing the split: "It's after much thought and sadness that we confirm our separation It is on amicable terms and we still remain close friends." She emphasised their continued partnership in parenting: "We move forward with respect for one another and our focus and commitment is on parenting our gorgeous daughter Summer." revealing that before his marriage he hadn't fully explored his sexuality my journey with Rebecca was a destination to love." He detailed the complexity of embracing his identity while being in a committed relationship: "I think as an unconfident bisexual man it was extremely difficult back then to admit it even to myself especially considering I had zero experience with the same sex I was committed to that relationship and its journey for the rest of my life." Needs later disclosed how Adlington supported him when he came out to her a year after their separation: "I never felt I deceived her because I loved her and like I already said I never had the time to discover my full sexuality." Meanwhile this time with facilities manager Andy Parsons whom she met through the dating app Bumble Adlington opened up about the beginnings of her romance I was just terrified by all my friends' stories." She continued explaining her change of heart: "I just got to the point where I thought that's how you meet people nowadays it's very rare that you just bump into somebody and meet them." she decided to take the plunge: "Oh I'll give it a try to see how it goes" and as fate would have it "literally I was on the app two weeks matched Andy my partner and just hit it off." The Olympic star recounted the early days with her now-husband: "I gave it another two weeks of chatting and then we met up and went out on a date and the rest is history." Adlington and Parsons tied the knot in 2021 and celebrated the birth of their son Albie that same year life has also presented challenges for Adlington She has endured the pain of two miscarriages The heartbreaking discovery came during what should have been a routine 12-week scan leading to emergency surgery and a battle with sepsis for the former swimmer Sharing her ordeal with her Instagram followers she conveyed the importance of support during such tough times: "It's such a devastating time but important in times like these we remember we aren't alone and have so much support," she said she assured everyone: "After a day of treating sepsis Long way to go but I'm in the right place," expressing gratitude for the care she was receiving further sorrow came for Adlington and her partner just a year on as they encountered another devastating loss – a miscarriage at 20 weeks with the couple expressing their deep grief in a statement: "We will forever love her." Adlington confided: "I don't really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20-week scan this week and they found no heartbeat," she shared We will forever love her and remember her always." Adlington spoke frankly about her struggles saying: "I don't have the strength or words right now and don't feel ready to share this news I can't pretend to be ok or fake a smile I can't have people ask me how pregnancy is or when I am due as I still look pregnant I don't have the strength to tell this news individually." The grief was palpable in her words: "We are so truly heartbroken," she lamented She later opened up about her emotional battle post-miscarriage telling The Times of her self-directed anger: "It was very hard for me to accept." she revealed: "I'm very logical so I wanted to find out why this had happened But the post-mortem showed there was no reason; sometimes things just happen I have to come to terms with that somehow and stop obsessing about it." Adlington has since been applauded for bravely disclosing her diagnosis with coeliac disease The esteemed Team GB athlete has candidly shared her recent battle with coeliac disease on Coeliac UK's Instagram advocating for her followers to push for the preservation of gluten-free prescriptions Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disorder where ingestion of gluten triggers the immune system to attack the body's own tissues resulting in small intestine damage and symptoms that include stomach pains staying clear of gluten is essential for those affected making gluten-free prescriptions a "vital" component of disease management Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we're heard so please sign and share the petition today." Following a significant response from the public the petition amassed a remarkable 22,826 signatures and was officially presented to Downing Street earlier this month Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Broxtowe Borough Council has unveiled plans to replace the ageing leisure centre in Bramcote with support from Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington The visit included a tour of the existing facilities by Broxtowe Councillors who discussed the proposals for the new centre The project now requires planning approval and sufficient funding before moving forward expressed enthusiasm for the project: “We were delighted to welcome Rebecca Adlington to discuss our plans for a new and improved leisure centre at Bramcote “The current centre needs significant upgrades We are committed to creating a modern leisure centre and exploring new opportunities for leisure provision in the north of the Borough.” Deputy Leader Councillor Greg Marshall added: “We’re thrilled to be moving closer to realizing these plans Meeting Rebecca and hearing her memories of competing at Bramcote was inspiring as we look toward a future where residents can enjoy a fantastic new facility.” highlighted the importance of improved facilities: “Our residents deserve state-of-the-art facilities to support their health and wellbeing Many learn to swim at Bramcote Leisure Centre and we’re determined to provide a modern swimming pool for the community.” Deputy Chief Executive Zulf Darr described the visit as “inspirational” and emphasized the focus on overcoming challenges: “The new leisure centre will significantly impact the health and wellbeing of local communities Securing planning approval and funding are now the key priorities.” the development consultant for the project praised the council’s proactive approach: “Ageing pools like Bramcote’s are common across the country and often not replaced Broxtowe Council is taking the right steps for its community and we’re excited to begin construction in 2025.” The proposed facility aims to enhance leisure opportunities for Broxtowe residents accessible resources that cater to health and wellness needs Shelagh Fogarty is Leading Britain's Conversation the Olympic swimmer revealed her life-changing diagnosis as she opened up about battling the autoimmune disorder issued a plea to the government to reverse plans to slash gluten-free prescriptions in parts of the UK Read more: Donald Trump announces 25% tariffs on all imported cars View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coeliac UK (@coeliacuk) "Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we're heard Adlington’s emotional plea was shared by Coeliac UK and captioned: "On Wednesday 19 March presenting our call for action to the UK Government." They also added: "We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who signed the petition Fans flooded the comment section with support for the beloved swimmer with one person writing: "Yes @beckadlington Gluten-free food should be affordable and accessible to EVERYONE who needs it." Another added: "So good to have someone famous helping to raise awareness "Let's keep raising awareness x thank you Rebecca xx," a third added Those with Coeliac disease become seriously ill if they eat foods containing gluten gluten "damages the gut (small intestine) so the body cannot properly take in nutrients,” the NHS writes See more More Latest News See more Latest News See more The News Explained See more Royals See more Highlights & Opinion See more More Topics The swimmer spoke out about the loss of her daughter last year News | UK Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington said she “couldn’t help blaming myself” when her daughter was stillborn The swimmer, 35, lost her third child, Harper, when she was stillborn at 20 weeks in October last year She said Harper’s death was “hard for me to accept” but added that the post-mortem showed there “was no reason” for her death and she had “come to terms with that somehow” said her children talk about their sister in a “not really sad The athlete, who previously had a miscarriage in 2022 said she and her husband had gone through counselling together She said: “Afterwards I hated my body because it couldn't keep Harper alive I felt it had let me down and I didn't look after myself: I wasn't exercising and eating badly “It was only about four months ago I managed to pull myself out of the darkness a bit I have two kids I have to be around for as long as possible.’ But it's something that will always be here.” The Mansfield-born Olympian win in the Olympic 400 metres freestyle in Beijing meant she became Britain’s first female swimming gold medallist for 48 years. Rebecca Adlington diagnosed with life-changing disease Best earplugs for swimming: options for triathletes and hobbyists Best changing robes for outdoor sports and swimming Meal2Deal: on a mission to make food poverty history WATCH NOW: Paul Coyte discusses the latest sport headlines BBC Sports presenter and Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington has revealed she has been diagnosed with coeliac disease The 36-year-old swimmer shared the news in a video posted on Coeliac UK's Instagram page Adlington highlighted the importance of gluten-free prescriptions for managing the condition She is supporting Coeliac UK's petition to protect these prescriptions Rebecca Adlington has asked for help after revealing her diagnosis The petition was recently delivered to 10 Downing Street to ensure patients' voices are heard Coeliac UK delivered the petition directly to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday The charity announced they had gathered an impressive 22,826 signatures from supporters across the UK The petition highlighted the importance of protecting access to gluten-free prescriptions for people with coeliac disease It particularly emphasised support for those most in need Among those participating in the hand-in were supporters who had personally experienced the withdrawal of support in their areas coeliac disease is a condition where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues when gluten is consumed preventing the body from properly absorbing nutrients The condition is triggered by consuming gluten Rebecca Adlington has been diagnosed with coeliac disease Those diagnosed must carefully manage their diet to avoid these adverse reactions and protect their health I have definitely quickly learnt how vital gluten-free prescriptions are for managing this condition." Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we're heard with one commenting: "Yes @beckadlington thanks for helping to raise awareness Rebecca Adlington won four gold medals at the Olympics for Great Britain People with coeliac disease must avoid foods containing gluten maintaining a strict gluten-free diet is essential for managing the condition The adverse reaction to gluten can cause significant health issues if not properly managed Coeliac UK continues to advocate for affordable and accessible gluten-free options for all patients who require them Mollie Quirk Senior Showbiz ReporterPublished: Invalid Date REBECCA Adlington has revealed she has been given a life-changing diagnosis in an emotional post The BBC Sports presenter, 36, who shot to fame as an Olympic swimmer, is battling coeliac disease - a debilitating autoimmune disorder Retired Olympic swimmer Rebecca revealed her diagnosis in a video this week as she urged people to sign a petition for gluten free prescriptions I have definitely quickly learnt how vital gluten free prescriptions are for managing this condition They also added: "We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who signed the petition, helping us push this crucial cause forward, and to all those who supported our campaign, including the brilliant @beckadlington, for her incredible backing." Reacting to the post, one person penned: "Yes @beckadlington. thanks for helping to raise awareness. Gluten free food should be affordable and accessible to EVERYONE who needs it." Another added: "So good to have someone famous helping to raise awareness. Well done Becky." coeliac disease is a "condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten" The health provider notes how this then "damages your gut (small intestine) so your body cannot properly take in nutrients" The adverse reaction to gluten means those with the disease should avoid foods containing wheat When the athlete starred in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2013 her family spoke out about a medical condition she had - which at the time prevented her from doing certain Bushtucker Trials revealed that all the family are aware of what is wrong with Rebecca Her uncle Tony then told The Daily Mirror: "We have been sworn to secrecy "Becky wants the public to know why she is being excused We wish the producers would say the reason." Her aunt added at the time: "It's not Becky's choice "She wants to do the challenges - even eating grubs - but she is not allowed to do some of them on doctor's orders." It was later revealed that the reason for her being excused from Bushtucker Trials was because she had anxiety "I have an anxiety disorder specific to confined underground spaces and I've had panic attacks in the past," she told the Daily Mail in December 2013 after her jungle exit "I disclosed that in my medical before I went into the jungle." She added: We were never aware in advance what the trials were Olympic gold medal winner Becky is now a media personality sharing her expertise as a BBC pundit at major sporting events Aged just 19, she was selected for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle event She became the first woman to win swimming gold for GB for 48 years and the first British swimmer to win more than one gold medal at a games for 100 years In her Olympic swansong, Becky became a part of GB folklore after winning bronze in the 400m and 800m freestyle at London 2012 before announcing her retirement from the sport aged just 23 In 2008, she claimed the Sports Journalists' Association's Sportswoman of the Year award and the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award She was also awarded an OBE in 2009 for her work both in and out of sport After losing her daughter Harper in October 2023, the swimming star says self care has been “absolutely fundamental” to healing from the devastating loss – after also previously losing a baby at 12 weeks. A double-Olympic champion in Beijing 2008 and a double-bronze medalist at London 2012 in the 800m and 400m, Adlington now works as a BBC pundit and commentator. She says: “It took properly six months where I just didn’t feel like myself at all, almost like this dark cloud was just constantly there – I feel like that has lifted.” Her family – including husband Andy Parsons, daughter from her first marriage, Summer, and son with Parsons, Albie – have a cherry tree dedicated to the child they lost, who they named Harper, and plan to put a plaque there to mark the year since. “Sometimes it did, it does, consume you. There were times where, within any process of grief, where I’d randomly just start crying,” shares the 35-year-old. “I think the ‘first’ of everything is quite difficult – getting past our due date was quite difficult.” And for former pro Adlington, as well as spending a lot of time with friends and family, swimming has been a key part of her recovery “On a Sunday morning I go for a 40 minute swim. I don’t go fast at all, my phone is in my locker, literally nobody can contact me. It’s just me in the pool and there’s no distraction. “I’ve just got to let my mind go from one thing to the other and be at total peace”. The couple announced their pregnancy on social media when they felt they were “out of the real danger zone”, she says. “I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks before, that’s why I waited until I was 15 weeks pregnant. I’d had three scans and a midwife appointment where I heard the heartbeat. “I felt naively that I was kind of in a safe spot because everything was absolutely fine.” View this post on InstagramA post shared by Becky Adlington (@beckadlington) They didn’t know anything was wrong until a routine scan at 20 weeks – or five months pregnant – when no heartbeat was detected. She was given a pill to take and two days later, went into labour. “I very naively didn’t realise I had to give birth. I felt that was more cruel in a way,” she says. It’s something she wants other people to understand better about late miscarriages. “I think that whole medical side is quite hard to digest, and I think it isn’t publicly known or out there.” Adlington, who is working with Interflora on a campaign to encourage people to open up and tackle tricky conversations, with their new Conversation In Bloom Cards, says: “We’ve certainly found that, going through something like we have with miscarriage, it’s a hard topic to talk about, it’s a hard topic to listen to. I can see that it might cause discomfort or awkwardness for other people, because people don’t know what to say. Just as she had publicly shared her pregnancy to her 175,000 Instagram followers, Adlington decided to post about losing the pregnancy too. “I wanted to come out and say something because I didn’t just want to go from her with a baby bump announcing her pregnancy, to, ‘Oh, where’s that bump gone?’ It had to be addressed because of that process, and at first it was a really scary thing. I didn’t know how to put it out there. I didn’t know what to say. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Becky Adlington (@beckadlington) “I was just so overwhelmed by the support and by so many, honestly, thousands upon thousands of messages and so many people.” But it also highlighted for her how often people don’t talk about baby loss. “I was genuinely surprised about how many people said, ‘Oh, I haven’t even told my friends and family’,” she says. “I’ve had people messaging me that 15 years on, they’re really struggling mentally. They don’t know how to process it, it’s not something that just disappears. “I don’t think people do it to try and be secretive. It’s just people do try and process it alone, because it’s a hard thing to navigate, and I think you’re trying to process it yourself. And actually, I genuinely don’t think you can after a while, because it just eats away at you.” Adlington had support from the miscarriage charity Petals, but says: “It isn’t something where you have two weeks off work and then you’re fine – you’re not fine.” Workplaces don’t usually have anything in place specifically for leave after a miscarriage – baby loss up to 24 weeks, and stillbirth – after 24 weeks. “It was hard at first to go back to work, because it was so public, everyone feels sorry for you. I think I found a couple of people just being a little bit awkward because they didn’t know what to say. And it was just a really hard thing. And I tried to address the elephant in the room, going, ‘I appreciate everyone’s concern, let’s just crack on with work,” says Adlington, who works as a director of swim!, providing centres and programmes for children’s swimming lessons. Two months after the loss, she presented BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year. “It was the first public thing that I did – I pretty much cancelled everything else and just hibernated for a little bit. But I love Sports Personality, and I was like, you know what, I’ve got to face the big bad world sometime. “It was very hard putting a dress on and putting make-up on and that sort of stuff when you feel really crappy about yourself. But it was the first step of trying to get a bit of my life [back]. “I won’t ever be the same as I was before. It’s not a case of forgetting that it ever happened, it’s trying to find a way to move forward and still live your life – but in a new capacity and in a new way.” View this post on InstagramA post shared by Becky Adlington (@beckadlington) Being a mum-of-two has helped enormously in her recovery I was exceptionally grateful to have two beautiful One of my friends went through five miscarriages and never had children “I felt so like I just wanted to hold my kids even tighter I’m just so grateful that my children are OK.” Interflora has launched Conversation In Bloom cards to help navigate tricky conversations and form deeper connections, available from Interflora.co.uk, with an RRP of £10. 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Whilst we are closed, please use our online single form to request the services you need Lichfield District Council is delighted to announce that today marked the official groundbreaking ceremony for the highly anticipated Lichfield Leisure Centre at Stychbrook Park The event was graced by one of the most successful and celebrated British swimmers of all time two-time Olympic gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington OBE alongside representatives from local swimming clubs and community organisations is set to become a cornerstone of health and fitness for the community The state-of-the-art facility will offer a range of amenities designed to meet the diverse needs of Lichfield's residents from beginners to experienced athletes and will replace the ageing Friary Grange leisure centre emphasised the vital role of physical activity in all stages of life “Exercise is so important at every age whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been active for years has played a key role in this incredible development We’ve worked hard with council officers to ensure that this new leisure centre will be relevant and accessible to everyone in today’s society Councillor Doug Pullen expressed his excitement about the project’s progress “I’m delighted that this long-awaited project is now underway and we are delivering on our promise to deliver a brand new leisure centre for Lichfield This project has been shaped by the community since the very beginning - I’m confident it will serve our district well for many years to come.” Regional Director of works contractor Stepnell said today “We’re excited to have been selected as the contractors for the new local leisure centre following a rigorous and in-depth procurement process This project is a fantastic opportunity for us to contribute to the community and we are excited to begin work on-site in September “Our team is committed to maintaining open and transparent communication with local residents throughout the construction process We will be actively liaising with the community to keep everyone informed and engaged as the project progresses It’s important to us that local people feel involved and confident in the work we are doing to bring this exciting new facility to life." The new Lichfield Leisure Centre is a significant investment in the future health and well-being of the community reflecting the Council’s commitment to providing first-class amenities for its residents the Council will continue to engage with the community to ensure that the facility meets the needs of all users Designed and Powered by Jadu This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Login to our digital services Four-time Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington OBE tells her story on why grassroots is vital for the future of swimming We spoke with her as part of our partnership with Team GB for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Since that unforgettable Olympic Games in 2008 she now focuses on the grassroots of swimming and helping children learn how to swim as a life skill Growing up in a small town in Nottinghamshire Rebecca’s parents sent her and her two sisters to the local pool to hone their swimming skills She believes that her parents taught them early so they wouldn’t have to worry about the children while sunbathing on holiday – but little did they know this was only just the beginning for Rebecca Rebecca won two gold medals in both the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyle at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 This was the first gold medal for Team GB in women’s swimming since 1960 “After winning my first gold medal in Beijing the most overwhelming emotion was shock,” says Rebecca her next immediate thought went straight onto the next race physio and nutrition ahead of the 800 metres.” This mentality won Rebecca her second gold medal adding her name to a small group of female multi-medal-winning athletes there weren’t many female multi-medallists at the Games and I was coming in at an amazing time where Team GB athletes were getting publicity and becoming role models,” she explains “It was great to have that presence and be that inspiration to young girls watching at home.” She went on to win a further two Olympic medals in London in 2012 – bronze in both the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyle. Being an inspiration to the next generation continues to be a passion for Rebecca since retirement We don’t have future athletes if we don’t have grassroots nearly 400 swimming pools have been shut down in the UK which will be creating this gap in stars for the future “British swimming had a brilliant Games at Tokyo in 2021 and a lot of that could be stemmed from them watching our success in London in 2012 But if we don’t have pools for athletes to start training in who knows where we will be further down the line?” It’s not just the lack of facilities that Rebecca wants to resolve The stigma that sports are only for boys still remains which could be putting off any future female athletes from taking up a sport in the first place I want her to see women achieving great things and being included in sports,” she says “I don’t want her to be scared that she can’t play football at school with the boys I love it when she comes home and says she’s getting involved and breaking down those barriers “There are so many benefits of getting into sport I want my daughter to have an active lifestyle and being a part of a sports club will get her into a healthy routine Sports clubs are run by local communities who are family-orientated and create a great environment.” Since retiring from competitive swimming in 2013 She started a programme named ‘Swim’ that helps children from 0-11 years old grow confidence in the water “Starting Swim is one of my proudest achievements but we start them young so it builds their confidence early and they will be safer in the water as they grow up “Promoting swimming as a skill is my life now I still see a pool every week of my life – I’ve just moved departments.” Rebecca is excited to see the return of the Olympic spirit so close to home “It’s amazing to have the crowds back in the stands Having that energy around them will definitely be something special." What she is most looking forward to as a fan of the Games is discovering who will be the next big thing “I have always loved a true underdog story I’m excited to see who will be that next person bursting onto the scene Rebecca relays some of the best advice she ever received You can’t be thinking about the ‘what ifs’ after a race You have to stick to the plan and give it your all they will have to be focused and locked in on their own race My advice to them would be to remember why you’re there Do the competition first and then you can really appreciate where you are and be a fan of the Games with the rest of us.” FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TEAM GB To find out how you could become a Team GB patron, supporting our nation’s athletes and inspiring sport and learning across Britain, please email Stuart.Denard@TeamGB.com Work on a new integrated retirement community in Exeter from Adlington Retirement Living is underway and set to complete in autumn 2025 Radford House in the sought-after area of St Leonards will comprise 65 stylish one two and three-bedroom retirement apartments for the over 65s in a safe and secure environment with the benefit of patios or walk-out balconies to all apartments sales and marketing director for Adlington Retirement Living said: “Radford House will have an excellent location and with easy access to Exeter City Centre.” “Our award-winning approach to independent living ensures homeowners don’t have to compromise on their lifestyle their social life or their independence. We aim to provide a community spirit whilst promoting independence and individual respect It’s a chance to become part of a thriving community of like-minded people Homeowners at Adlington Retirement Living’s new Exeter community will benefit from their own peaceful and spacious apartment and have access to well-maintained gardens Optional personal care packages are also available to suit individual residents’ needs Be it short-term support after an operation or more regular the team work closely with their local care partner to ensure a flexible solution to suit each individual Alexandra Johnson explains: “More of our homeowners are choosing to move to retirement communities whilst they’re fit and healthy to future-proof their retirement We offer a personal approach to care to ensure that each individual receives just the right amount to maintain their independence allowing them to enjoy their retirement to the full.” “Even though many of our homeowners do not need specialist care the Adlington on-site support team is always there in the background giving them and their families comfort that in the event of an unexpected fall Each apartment has been designed to make everyday life easier Every detail has been considered from the natural light and user-friendly layout to the spacious storage cupboards and private patios or balconies Quality fixtures and fittings will include hardwearing 80% wool carpets that reduce heat loss and add a touch of luxury feature fireplaces and fully fitted kitchens with integrated appliances Many will feature en-suite shower rooms as well as separate bathrooms and most will have a private patio area or walk-out balcony overlooking the beautifully landscaped gardens Four of Adlington’s retirement communities won Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for the Best Retirement Development at the WhatHouse? Awards the UK housebuilding’s most prestigious event Copyright © 2025 Show House We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Care Home Professional The proposed retirement community will comprise stylish one two and three-bedroom apartments for the over 60’s chief executive of Adlington Retirement Living said: “Our vision is to empower the older generation to live a long We do this by creating quality retirement communities in safe and secure environments and providing our homeowners with stimulating activities extensive communal facilities and beautiful private gardens “There’s an urgent need to address the shortage of appropriate housing for older people and integrated retirement communities (IRCs) are a very undersupplied part of the market An Adlington Retirement Living community provides genuinely lifechanging homes for those individuals who move in.” The site on Ratcliffe Road has been vacant since it closed in 2018 The proposed design-led development will be a positive addition to the Stoneygate Conservation Area complementing the character of the surrounding buildings In addition to enjoying their own peaceful and spacious apartments homeowners will be able to spend time in the leafy gardens (maintained by an expert team of gardeners) therapy suite or homeowners’ lounge and enjoy the restaurant Four of Adlington’s retirement communities have won Gold Silver and Bronze Awards for the Best Retirement Development at the WhatHouse The family owned and run business has a superb track record having launched 18 successful Independent Retirement Communities since 2008 Its 19th community is set to open in Staffordshire in September and two more communities are under construction in Knaresborough and Exeter Adlington Retirement Living is one of the top three companies in the UK with a dedicated team that design and operate Independent Retirement Communities In the past six years it has grown from 30 employees to a team of more than 250 Only around 36% of people living with the condition have been officially diagnosed Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has recently revealed about her condition Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has recently revealed her diagnosis of coeliac disease and has called for greater awareness of the condition In a video shared on Coeliac UK’s Instagram Adlington discussed the importance of gluten-free prescriptions and urged the government to protect access to these prescriptions Her diagnosis shines a light on coeliac disease a condition that affects approximately 1 in 100 people in the UK due to the difficulty in recognising the symptoms only around 36% of people living with the condition have been officially diagnosed Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition triggered by the consumption of gluten Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat consuming gluten causes their immune system to attack the lining of their small intestine leading to damage that prevents the absorption of essential nutrients This can cause a wide range of symptoms and can lead to long-term health problems such as osteoporosis but a lifelong autoimmune condition that requires strict management through diet The symptoms of coeliac disease can vary greatly from person to person One striking fact is that 1 in 4 people diagnosed with coeliac disease had previously been misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) This overlap in symptoms can delay the correct diagnosis it takes an average of 13 years for adults to receive a proper diagnosis after their symptoms first appear Diagnosing coeliac disease early is crucial to preventing further complications Damage to the small intestine caused by continued gluten consumption can result in nutrient deficiencies affecting overall health and quality of life due to the complexity of symptoms and the fact that they can be mistaken for other conditions many people live with the disease for years before being diagnosed Rebecca Adlington's own diagnosis highlights the need for greater awareness as even high-profile athletes and public figures can struggle with the condition While coeliac disease affects approximately 1 in 100 people the number of people experiencing symptoms without diagnosis is much higher an estimated 500,000 people in the UK are living with undiagnosed coeliac disease although more than 50% of people are diagnosed after the age of 40 Coeliac disease also tends to be more common in females and studies show that if a family member has the condition there is a 1 in 10 chance that a close relative will also develop it People with Type 1 diabetes are six times more likely to have coeliac disease than the general population and the risk increases to 10 times for children with Type 1 diabetes Rebecca Adlington has been using her platform to advocate for the protection of gluten-free prescriptions She explained that she quickly learned how vital these prescriptions are for managing the condition yet some areas have seen these prescriptions cut Adlington has encouraged others to support a petition that gathered 22,826 signatures and was submitted to the government calling for better access to gluten-free prescriptions Her efforts are helping to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those living with coeliac disease and the only treatment is to follow a strict gluten-free diet for life This means avoiding any foods containing wheat While some people may be able to tolerate very small amounts of gluten most must avoid it completely to prevent symptoms and further intestinal damage People with coeliac disease must learn to identify which foods are safe and navigate the complexities of avoiding gluten in processed or packaged foods Coeliac UK provides valuable resources and support Their website offers information about maintaining a gluten-free diet as well as details on local support groups If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with coeliac disease or is experiencing symptoms Coeliac UK’s helpline (0333 332 2033) is available Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm to provide further assistance A woman from west London has become the first person in the UK to undergo a new form of breast reconstruction surgery using a keyhole technique developed to aid quicker recovery and reduce complications following a mastectomy had the minimally invasive operation after her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent mastectomy The surgery was performed by a team of London-based surgeons and has been described as a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment The procedure is a modified version of the DIEP flap (deep inferior epigastric perforator) surgery which is commonly used for breast reconstruction from the patient’s abdomen and using it to reconstruct the breast a large incision of around 10 to 12 centimetres is made in the abdominal wall the new keyhole technique requires an incision of only 2 to 3 centimetres this not only reduces trauma to the abdominal wall but also significantly lowers the risk of complications such as hernias and shortens the recovery time Ms Tanna described the experience as unexpectedly positive I was expecting a large amount of pain,” she said and the day afterwards I was up and about walking The nurses were looking at me as if it was a miracle.” The keyhole procedure was developed and carried out by Mr Dariush Nikkhah a consultant plastic surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital a consultant colorectal surgeon at Hillingdon Hospital The technique adapts a method being trialled in a small number of centres internationally but has now been successfully introduced in the UK “The Royal Free Hospital is now one of the few centres in the world which can offer this type of surgery Instead of the usual four to seven-day hospital stay patients undergoing this keyhole surgery may only need to remain in hospital for one to two days.” “This is a massive breakthrough in cancer surgery We are continuing to refine the process and aim to develop a robotic-assisted version of the procedure.” The robotic version would involve the surgeon operating instruments remotely via robotic arms offering increased control and magnification during surgery could improve precision and reduce surgical risk even further but her reconstructive surgery was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and NHS backlogs Mr Nikkhah later proposed the new keyhole option and Ms Tanna agreed to become the first UK patient to undergo it “When I heard that I would be the first patient in the UK to have this procedure I was a bit nervous “The team promised to make me feel whole again OLDER south Asians have been urged to get their hearts checked as it is estimated that 1.5 million Asians may be living with undiagnosed heart valve disease (HVD) – a serious condition that can lead to heart failure or death HVD occurs when one or more valves in the heart do not work properly tiredness and dizziness are often mistaken for normal signs of ageing But early diagnosis can lead to life-saving treatments less invasive procedures like TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) statistics show that south Asian and black patients are less likely to be diagnosed or treated for the condition A recent study found just three per cent of TAVI procedures were performed on black or Asian British patients South Asian patients were also less likely to receive aortic valve replacements in a timely manner with 55 per cent treated compared to 65 per cent of white patients a ‘Your Heart Matters’ truck (right) is travelling to key locations offering free heart checks especially targeting older people in Asian communities 9); Leicester (Clock Tower on May 13 and Newcastle (Asda Byker Superstore on May 16) consultant cardiologist at Wexham Park Hospital “We want to reach out to the south Asian community or simply don’t realise how serious these symptoms are.” language and access barriers may prevent south Asians from seeking help where 50 per cent of the population is Asian less than five per cent of patients in specialist HVD clinics are of south Asian origin “Heart valve disease is both common and serious There are many treatment options available beyond open heart surgery which can help patients maintain a good quality of life It’s crucial to continue raising awareness about the symptoms and the importance of regular check-ups to detect heart valve disease early.” Ultra-processed breakfast cereals as among the most harmful UPF items Consuming high amounts of ultra-processed food (UPF) significantly increases the risk of early death leading to renewed calls for tougher regulation which involved data from eight countries including the United Kingdom and the United States found that each 10% increase in UPF consumption raises the risk of dying before the age of 75 by 3% published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlights the widespread impact of UPFs on public health are implicated in as many as one in seven premature deaths in some nations Researchers found that UPFs are associated with 124,107 early deaths each year in the United States and 17,781 annually in the United Kingdom the lead investigator from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil explained that the health risks of UPF extend beyond their high fat Additives such as sweeteners and flavourings as well as changes that occur during industrial processing contribute significantly to adverse health outcomes The researchers reviewed official dietary and mortality surveys from the UK They observed a “linear dose-response association” between UPF intake and all-cause mortality the risk of early death rises proportionally The burden of premature deaths linked to UPF varies across countries and 6% of early deaths respectively were attributed to UPF consumption the figures were markedly higher in Canada (10.9%) “Premature deaths attributable to consumption of ultra-processed foods increase significantly according to their share in individuals’ total energy intake,” the researchers concluded “A high amount of UPF intake can significantly affect health.” The countries with the highest rates of deaths related to UPFs are also those where these foods make up the largest portion of the diet UPFs account for 53.4% of the total energy intake according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey conducted in 2018–19 The figure is even higher in the United States “We first estimated a linear association between the dietary share of UPFs and all-cause mortality so that each 10% increase in the participation of UPFs in the diet increases the risk of death from all causes by 3%,” Nilson said He also noted that UPFs affect health beyond the individual impact of high contents of sodium “The industrial processing of foods and the use of artificial ingredients contribute significantly to the negative health effects Assessing deaths from all causes associated with UPF consumption provides an overall estimate of the impact of industrial food processing on health,” he added While the highest burden of UPF-related illness and deaths currently occurs in high-income countries the trend is growing in low- and middle-income nations as well The study’s authors have called on governments around the world to introduce stronger measures to address the issue They recommended actions such as tighter regulation of food marketing restrictions on the sale of UPF in schools and workplaces and the introduction of taxes on ultra-processed food products to discourage consumption This study adds to a growing body of evidence linking UPFs to serious health conditions and a higher overall risk of dying before 75 the researchers cautioned that their findings show an association rather than a direct causal relationship between UPF consumption and early death a study published last year in the BMJ found that individuals who consume the most UPFs have a 4% higher overall risk of death and a 9% higher risk of dying from causes other than cancer or heart disease and ultra-processed breakfast cereals as among the most harmful UPF items a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We have already taken action to end the targeting of junk food adverts to children and we have handed local authorities stronger powers to block applications for new takeaways near schools “We are also commissioning research to improve the evidence on the health impacts of Through our Plan for Change we will shift the focus from sickness to prevention reducing the burden of obesity on public services and the NHS.” The growing concern over UPFs reflects a broader shift towards prioritising preventive health measures and reducing the consumption of industrially processed foods in favour of whole and minimally processed options Critical words received in childhood often underpin later anxiety Being shouted at by parents can cause lasting changes to children's brain development leading to mental health difficulties and challenges in maintaining friendships specialists in child development and mental health will highlight how verbal abuse by adults can have serious and lifelong consequences for children Research shows that such abuse affects children’s ability to experience pleasure and can make them view the world as a threatening place a clinical psychologist and chief executive of the mental health charity Anna Freud as well as a professor of developmental neuroscience and psychopathology at University College London (UCL) said: “As children we believe what we are told deeply folding the words of adults into our understanding of ourselves and the world around us He explained that critical words received in childhood often underpin later anxiety even if individuals spend many years trying to overcome their early experiences McCrory’s research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown that sustained exposure to abuse can lead to significant biological changes in the brain’s structure and function His imaging studies have demonstrated that such abuse can alter the brain’s “threat” and “reward” circuits both of which are crucial for navigating the world and forming relationships can alter a child’s brain so that the world is perceived as a more dangerous place,” McCrory said Children who experience verbal abuse may misinterpret neutral jokes This can result in social withdrawal or defensive aggression to protect themselves will inform MPs and peers that verbal abuse by parents and adolescence is widespread and often overlooked They describe verbal abuse as “the most prevalent form of child maltreatment” emphasising its severity and long-term impact The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies emotional abuse as a key form of violence and maltreatment against children Research from 2023 indicates that two in five children (41%) in the UK experience verbal abuse either occasionally or regularly experts argue that verbal abuse has remained “under the radar” compared to physical or sexual abuse The meeting has been organised by the charity Words Matter which is campaigning to raise awareness of verbal abuse and its effects head of the division of psychology and language sciences at UCL said: “It is one of the most preventable causes of mental health problems Harsh words can actively weaken the brain’s foundation during development It’s vital for building their identity and emotional resilience.” professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at King’s College London added: “The sticks and stones rhyme is wrong Words can harm a child’s wellbeing and development and leave lifelong psychological scars.” Danese explained that encouraging and positive language from adults can support a child’s learning and assist them in becoming well-rounded adults verbal abuse can distort a young person’s sense of identity and their understanding of their role in the world The meeting is sponsored by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP and former shadow health minister who stated that verbal abuse had been “under the radar” for too long and that it causes “significant and lasting harm” to children She said: “Neuroscience shows clearly that verbal abuse profoundly harms children’s developing brains If the government truly wants the healthiest generation in history tackling verbal abuse must become a core part of the national mental health strategy.” Experts in the UK and the United States have previously stated that verbal abuse can be as damaging to children as physical or sexual abuse underlining the need for greater recognition and preventive measures The Department for Education was approached for a response Paltrow's interest in wellness and food began in part due to her father’s battle with throat cancer Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that she is returning to eating foods she once restricted after following a strict paleo diet for several years who has become a prominent health and wellness advocate has been vocal about her diet choices throughout her career particularly through her lifestyle business Paltrow discussed her food journey and how her eating habits have evolved over the years She explained that she had previously gone through a "hardcore macrobiotic" phase describing it as an "interesting chapter" where she became deeply focused on eating extremely healthy foods This period saw her embracing a diet rich in seasonal and local foods which led her to explore ways to improve her health and diet she explained that her food choices have become more flexible as she’s aged and she’s broadened her dietary preferences "I went into hardcore macrobiotic for a certain time That was an interesting chapter where I got obsessed with eating very "I really deepened my connection with food and the whole philosophy around macrobiotics which is essentially how they eat in the mountains of Japan—very local Paltrow admitted that she may have become a little "didactic" about her eating habits She felt so good on the diet that she wanted to share it with her father they could all feel better and prevent health issues I became a little intoxicated by the idea that if we stayed hydrated and ate whole foods we could just feel so much better," she explained "I still feel the same way to an extent but things have gotten a little more complicated with age especially in terms of inflammation and other health matters." Paltrow also spoke about her transition into the paleo diet a nutritional plan that advocates eating as our ancient ancestors did—focusing on whole foods such as meat She admitted that while the paleo diet served her well for a while she is now "a little sick of it" and is looking to bring more variety back into her meals I’m getting back into eating sourdough bread A little pasta after being strict with it for so long," she said Eating foods that are as whole and fresh as possible I don’t think there is any doctor or nutritionist that would refute that Her shift towards a more balanced diet has been welcomed by health professionals Paltrow's dietary evolution reflects a broader trend in the wellness industry where many are now advocating for a more balanced there is a growing emphasis on sustainability and allowing for enjoyment of all types of foods in moderation While Paltrow’s food journey has been highly public her shift towards a more balanced diet may resonate with many who have experienced similar challenges in sticking to strict eating plans Her decision to reintroduce previously restricted foods into her diet serves as a reminder that wellness is about finding balance and adapting to changing health needs over time Having stepped away from Hollywood in recent years to focus on health and wellness, Paltrow is now preparing to make her big-screen return She will star alongside Timothée Chalamet in the upcoming sports action movie Marty Supreme Despite her limited presence in the film industry Paltrow’s influence in the world of health and her evolving relationship with food serves as a lesson in moderation and flexibility Paltrow is helping to shape a more nuanced conversation about health showing that it’s possible to embrace both wellness and indulgence in a way that works for the individual