Ex-Eastenders star says common gut condition 'often missed' with 1 in 20 diagnosed

Ex-EastEnders star says common gut condition 'often missed' with 1 in 20 diagnosedA former EastEnders star shared her own battle with the condition which saw her lose three stones in weightCommentsNewsSamantha Leathers Senior Money & Lifestyle writer11:46, 13 Apr 2026Updated 12:23, 13 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesThe condition can cause pain, bloating and unintentional weight loss(Image: GETTY)Over half of Britons have never heard of the gut condition fuelling a 'hidden epidemic', with as few as one in 20 sufferers potentially receiving an accurate diagnosis, while the majority dismiss their symptoms as simply part and parcel of Britain's well-documented bloating problem.‌Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, known as SIBO, disrupts the digestive system and triggers persistent complaints such as pain, bloating, diarrhoea and weight loss. While the symptoms bear a remarkable similarity to IBS, it is estimated that as many as 70% of those diagnosed with IBS are actually suffering from SIBO, despite the two conditions requiring vastly different approaches to treatment.‌A handful of well-known figures have come forward to share their personal battles with this widespread yet largely unrecognised condition, including Selena Gomez and former EastEnders actress Melissa Carter, who received her diagnosis as recently as 2023.‌View 3 ImagesMelissa Carter appeared on EastEnders until 2010 as Lucy Beale(Image: Melissa-Carter / AltruVita)Her path to obtaining the correct diagnosis set her back more than £20,000, during which time she shed three stone involuntarily. She said: "Before I was diagnosed, I had never even heard of SIBO."I just thought my symptoms were something I had to live with. When I started talking about it on my channel, I was shocked by how many women messaged me saying they had never heard of it either, despite struggling with similar symptoms for years.‌"There is this dangerous culture of thinking these gut issues are ...