US actress Selena Gomez has sadly made an addition to her seemingly ever-growing list of health ailments.
In an announcement made this week, the 32-year-old - who already battles a plethora of both mental and physical illnesses - was forced to reveal she'd recently been diagnosed with an agonising intestinal condition after being subjected to harsh comments about her appearance.
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Any fan of the 'Who Says' singer and much-loved television star knows that the last decade hasn't been kind to Selena health-wise.
In 2012, she first revealed she'd been diagnosed with lupus, and five years later, she told her Instagram followers that she'd recently been absent from the public eye following a kidney transplant surgery she'd received from her friend.
Around that time, she was also forced to address the changes to her appearance that the medication and surgery had caused, after coming under fire from online trolls.
In the years that followed, the former Wizards of Waverley Place star went on to reveal she'd been secretly battling both anxiety and depression behind the scenes to such an extent that she needed therapy.
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And in September of this year, she broke the heartbreaking news that she was unable to get pregnant naturally due to her ongoing health issues, and said she'd likely have to undergo surrogacy or adopt if she wished to one day welcome children.
Now, however, Selena has been forced to announce that she also suffers from a bowel-based condition commonly referred to as SIBO (which stands for a small intestine bacterial overgrowth).
The news hit the headlines after she shared a now-deleted TikTok of herself attending the American French Film Festival last month, where she was seen somewhat shielding her stomach while walking on the red carpet.
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And after a stream of trolls took to the comments to question her physique, she revealed that her body had been making her 'sick', hence the pose.
"This makes me sick," she penned. "I have [SIBO] in my small intestine. It flares up. I don’t care that I don’t look like a stick figure.
"I don’t have that body. End of story. No I am NOT a victim. I’m just human."
SIBO - which describes an excessive amount of bacterial growth in the small intestine - often inundates the patient with several painful symptoms, including nausea, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
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And speaking recently about her tendency to call out online 'body shamers' who take it upon themselves to make unwanted comments about celebrities' physiques and figures, she admitted she 'doesn't care' who she upsets.
"And I am never going to look whatever way they think I should look," the Only Murders In The Building star told The Hollywood Reporter.
"That’s just twisted."
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Selena Gomez, US News, Mental Health
Rhianna Benson