Kerry Katona has revealed she was recently diagnosed with lipedema, which has left “lumps of fat” all over her body.
The 42-year-old reality star shared the news in an Instagram post on Monday while enjoying a workout at home.
According to the NHS, lipedema is a chronic condition characterized by abnormal and painful accumulations of fat not caused by obesity, usually around the legs and thighs.
Slipping into pink leggings and a matching top, Kerry lamented the swelling was so big “it had a personality of its own”.
She captioned the clip: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life guys!! I love Monday mornings! New day, new week, new beginning, new beginning!’.
Painful: Kerry Katona, 42, has revealed she was recently diagnosed with lipedema which has left ‘lumps of fat’ all over her body
Saucy: According to the NHS, lipedema is a chronic condition in which there is an abnormal and painful accumulation of fat – not caused by obesity – usually around the legs and thighs (Kerry pictured in 2021).
“I was diagnosed with lipidemia [sic] last week, which means swelling of the body and random lumps of fat. But fuck it!!! Gonna train the s*** out of my body!’.
She continued: “If you watch the video you can see the swelling on top of my stomach, crisscrossing my ribs and also my shins and knees…they are so big they have their own bleeding personalities!! Oh I have a broken foot too!! is this supposed to stop me?????? No way!!’.
Research suggests the condition is caused by hormonal changes, such as those that occur with pregnancy or puberty.
The announcement comes after Kerry revealed earlier this week that her daughter Heidi had to “change schools” after she was attacked via her mother’s OnlyFans account.
She’s been open about her experience with the subscription-only service, which is said to bring her £600,000 a month.
But write in her weekly column for news! magazine, the former Cheshire singer explained: “My kids get so much shit because of who I am. I think that in the past they have been treated differently by teachers, other students and even parents.
“When we first moved up north, my Heidi had to change schools because guys in her class teased her that I was in OnlyFans.
“People read things about me and then judge my kids. That’s not fair. They never asked me to be their mother. My downfall shall not rest on their shoulders.’
Working out: The 42-year-old reality star shared the news in an Instagram post on Monday while enjoying a workout at home
Swelling: Slipping into pink leggings and a matching top, Kerry lamented the swell was so severe it had a personality of its own.
Starting over: She captioned the clip: ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life guys!! I love Monday mornings! New day, new week, new beginning, new beginning!’
Katona, who is raising five children from three marriages, wrote in response to Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan, who recently claimed her own daughter is routinely singled out by a teacher at her school.
Heidi Elizabeth is Katona’s eldest child with the taxi driver’s second husband, Mark Croft, who also fathered 14-year-old son Maxwell with the former singer.
She is also parent to daughters Molly Marie, 21, and Lilly-Sue, 20, with her first husband, Westlife star Brian McFadden, and daughter Dylan-Jorge, eight, with third husband George Kay.
Concerned: The announcement comes after Kerry revealed earlier this week that her daughter Heidi had to “change schools” after being picked through her mother’s OnlyFans account
Here we go: The former Atomic Kitten star has been breathed new life since signing up to the subscription-only service
Kay, a former Warrington Wolves rugby league player, died of a drug overdose at a Holiday Inn hotel in Cheshire in 2019 at the age of 39.
Last year, Katona opened up about Heidi’s anxiety, which she admitted made the then 15-year-old feel “don’t want to be here anymore.”
Write in her new! Column, she told readers: “I don’t think the pandemic has had a huge impact on my children in that sense, but Heidi suffers from anxiety and a general lack of confidence.
“And she’s gotten to the point where she talks like that. Once she sat on her bed and told me she didn’t want to be here anymore. It broke my heart and I cried my eyes out.’
Katona went on to say that she’s glad her daughter can be honest with her about her feelings, and revealed that the teenager is seeing a grief counselor following Kay’s sudden death.
Lipedema, the condition that causes thick, long, and painful thighs
Lipedema is a chronic condition that typically affects the legs and thighs.
The buildup of fat is not caused by obesity, and diet and exercise have little effect on the condition.
Research suggests it is caused by hormonal changes such as those that occur with pregnancy or puberty.
It is typically treated by liposuction.
Source: NHS Lipoedema fact file