Over the last few years, Selena Gomez has been pretty open about her physical and mental health, with the 32-year-old making it clear that she doesn’t tolerate body shaming. But it’s still happening, and Sel isn’t here for it.
The latest: Some people started criticizing Selena for posing with her hand in front of her torso on the red carpet for the premiere of her new film Emilia Pérez. Among other things, they suggested that she was trying to hide her body.
Well, the Only Murders in the Building star chimed in, sharing that she has a condition called SIBO. But what, exactly, is that? Here’s what you need to know.
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It happens when there’s an unusual increase in the overall population of bacteria in your small intestine, particularly types of bacteria that aren’t normally found in that area of your GI tract, per the Mayo Clinic.
What are the symptoms of SIBO?
SIBO can be tricky to diagnose, and it has a lot of overlapping symptoms with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To make things even more complicated, some people with IBS also have SIBO.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal distension
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
Selena Gomez clapped back at body shamers amid her struggle with SIBO.
Apparently, Selena saw comments about her body on TikTok and decided to say something.
“This makes me sick,” she wrote in a since-deleted comment, per Elle. “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.”
She’s been open about her health issues.
Selena has shared a lot about her health over the past few years. She has lupus, which required a kidney transplant in 2017.
She’s also been candid about having bipolar disorder, noting that she can’t carry her own children due to the medications she takes. But in all of this, Selena has been clear that she’s on top of her health—and that her body is nobody else’s business.
Keep doing you, Selena!
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.