Inflammatory Bowel Disease (better known as IBD) affects 1 in 250 people in the UK, with the two main types of IBD being Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
Ulcerative Colitis currently affects around 146,000 people in the UK with Crohn’s Disease hitting around 115,000.
IBD can be extremely debilitating for some, with symptoms that include chronic fatigue, pain, swelling or cramping in the tummy, extreme weight loss and recurring diarrhoea. These symptoms can occur in varied amounts and can leave some housebound, unable to work or enjoy normal day-to-day activities.
IBD can often be seen as a taboo subject, but one girl hoping to break the stigma is Zoey Wright, who had life-changing surgery after battling Ulcerative Colitis for two years.