This Morning presenter Josie Gibson has delivered a candid and concerning update on her private health battle, confessing a secret condition is deteriorating as she gets older.
A Lifelong Struggle Revealed
The 40-year-old TV personality, famed for winning Big Brother and appearing on I'm A Celebrity, joined regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard as a guest on Thursday's edition of the ITV magazine show. It was there she disclosed that her lipoedema – a chronic disorder causing a disproportionate accumulation of fat – is "getting worse and worse".
Gibson explained she received her diagnosis approximately a year ago and underwent surgery in September 2024. "I didn't have a clue [what it was]," she admitted. "I knew something wasn't right with my body but I didn't know what lipoedema was."
Why Diet and Exercise Aren't Enough
The star, who often fronts This Morning alongside relief presenters like Craig Doyle, sought expert opinions in Berlin and from three specialists in London. She described a frustrating reality: her body stores fat differently, and the lipoedema fat is resistant to traditional weight-loss methods.
"Basically, my body holds onto fat differently," Josie stated. "I train, I don't overeat, I'm fit and healthy. They said I could train seven days a week and I wouldn't get rid of lipoedema fat like that, it's like congealed fat."
She highlighted the condition's physical manifestation, noting a small waist but legs that "don't belong to my body". The issue is also appearing in her arms. "As I'm getting older, it's getting worse," she said, confirming the condition is progressive.
From Childhood Symptoms to Surgical Intervention
Gibson traced the problem back to her childhood, recalling how she couldn't walk for several minutes after sitting cross-legged in primary school assemblies. "My lymphatic system mustn't have been working as a child," she reflected, identifying the condition as genetic.
The lipoedema has also impacted her work. While filming A Taste of the South West, she had to prop herself up on kitchen counters due to the heaviness in her legs, without explaining why to colleagues. Days of filming would end with severe swelling, soreness, and easy bruising.
As a "last resort," she turned to surgery, a costly process where procedures are split into sections. She revealed the bill for just her calves exceeded seven thousand pounds.
Addressing speculation about her noticeable weight loss, Gibson has firmly pushed back against claims she used medication or had a gastric bypass. In a previous Instagram post, she attributed her transformation to moving more, eating less, and self-education. She also followed a 1970s diet, fasting three days a week, and was told by a nutritionist that despite being overweight, she maintained a "superior fitness rate".
Josie Gibson's openness provides a stark look at a poorly understood condition, challenging assumptions about weight, fitness, and health.
