Sick to their stomach – Third of Britons believe they have gut illness
But a quarter of those polled say the debilitating illness leaves them feeling less self-assured, and one in six are unable to meet others as and when they would want. While one third of adults are left with feelings of anxiety as their mental health has taken a turn for the worse.
When it comes to diet, 39 per cent of people are unable to eat what they want – which makes them feel “down”.
Dr Chris George, speaking on behalf of Symprove Ltd, which commissioned the research, said: “When it comes to our health, it’s time to start oversharing.
“Talking about so-called ‘embarrassing’ digestive symptoms is the first step in our journeys to happier, healthier lifestyles as research has shown links between our gut microbiome and so many aspects of our overall health and well-being.”
The study found 57 percent of sufferers don’t take their gut health as seriously as they should.
And this is despite more than a quarter feeling limited by menus in a restaurant, while 24 per cent have felt unable to socialise with others due to their worries.
