“I finally feel so seen and understood,” she wrote beneath Renwick’s video. “It’s always been a fun fact that I can’t burp but it’s caused issues my whole life and I’m sick of people commenting on my weight and body onstage when I’m just bloated af.”
She added that she wanted to undergo “throtox”, an informal name for botulinum toxin injections into the relevant throat muscle, but feared the treatment might affect her singing voice. For a professional vocalist, that is not a minor footnote.
Why campaigners want better NHS access
Gemma Renwick is campaigning for greater recognition of R-CPD and improved access to treatment through the National Health Service. Her petition had collected more than 4,800 signatures and was scheduled to close on December 22.
Renwick argues that many people with the condition are dismissed or misdiagnosed before eventually paying for private care. She wants the government to review whether patients receive adequate recognition, referral options and treatment.
“R-CPD can cause severe bloating, pain and major impacts on daily life,” the petition states. “We believe patients deserve better awareness, referral pathways and NHS access to treatment.”
The condition remains unfamiliar to much of the public, and often to healthcare professionals. For those affected, finding other patients online can provide the first indication that their symptoms have a name and are not simply an unusual digestive inconvenience.
Jade previously joked about never burping
This is the most detailed account Thirlwall has given of the condition’s effect on her life, although she briefly referred to it in 2023.
In a TikTok post that year, she wrote: “Shout out to my fellow ‘no burp syndrome’ queens,” before adding: “I’ve never burped in my life but I’m still stunning.”
The lighter tone concealed the physical effects she has now described, including bloating severe enough to change how her body appears on stage. Her comments also underline the gap between an audience seeing a photograph or performance and knowing what is happening medically. Social media has rarely allowed that gap to interrupt an unsolicited opinion.
Body comments carry a difficult history
Thirlwall has previously spoken about being diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and about the continuing effect of that eating disorder on her relationship with food and body image.
In a 2025 interview with The Guardian, she said she faced a “daily battle” not to use Ozempic. While she did not judge others for taking it, she feared that her history of eating disorders could make the medication dangerous for her psychologically.
She also contrasted Little Mix’s message of body empowerment with the remarks she receives now. Thirlwall said she was in her 30s and healthier than ever, yet photographs still attracted comments suggesting she might be pregnant.
“People are used to seeing me in a group environment five or 10 years ago when I was stick-thin because I was in my early 20s with an eating disorder,” she said.
The singer has described working to break a pattern of controlling her life by restricting food in what she called a “very toxic way”. The latest disclosure gives further context to body changes that strangers have treated as public property.
A busy year alongside private difficulties
Thirlwall spent the summer performing at festivals in support of her 2025 album, That’s Showbiz Baby!. She also attended major personal events, including the wedding of her former Little Mix bandmate Perrie Edwards.
Away from the stage, she has been dealing privately with the end of her relationship with Jordan Stephens. The pair dated for six years.
Anyone concerned that they or someone they know may have an eating disorder can contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 for confidential information and guidance on seeking appropriate support.
