painful

Nadia Sawalha explains her swollen appearance as she details her painful health condition after a discussion with Dr Zoe which has left her face feeling ‘bruised’

Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha is suffering from a painful health condition as she opens up about her appearance and her experience chatting to Dr Zoe Williams.

During the show on Thursday, 30 October, Jane Moore asked Nadia the reason she had her glasses on and opted for a no-makeup look. Nadia joked that in the past, if she wore her glasses, then people would think she was hungover, before she explained that her face felt ‘bruised’ due to her stress levels.

She discussed how she thought it was an allergy at first before explaining: “It just feels a bit bruised, but lovely doctor Zoe came and saw me, I had my own session with her in my dressing room, and I said to her ‘honestly Zoe I think it’s stress’ and she agreed.”

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Nadia explained how Zoe suggested taking deep breaths and taking a bit of ‘time out’. Nadia went on to say that she hadn’t cried properly in about ‘two or three years’, saying: “I cry a little bit and then I stop. I honestly think it is that. When we get stressed, why do we think it doesn’t impact our body?” She went on to thank Zoe and said she was a ‘special woman’.

The Loose Women panellist also shared a video on her Instagram page where she revealed her sister couldn’t believe she was going on live TV ‘looking like that’. Nadia revealed her sister said she looked like she ‘had three bottles of sauvignon blanc’ and had ‘fallen asleep in a hedge’.

Fans rushed to send their well wishes as one person wrote: “Bless you Nadia I hope it clears up soon it looks uncomfortable”, while another added: “Ohhh Nadia I love how strong and humble you are. You’re beautiful inside out even with puffy eyes. Hope they get better”.

It follows after Nadia recently opened up on her 23-year marriage, revealing that it nearly ended over her husband’s intense jealousy. The 60-year-old married husband Mark Adderley in 2002 and has previously opened up about hurdles in their relationship.

Nadia spoke in the past about her husband achieving sobriety after struggling with alcohol for many years and being diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder and depression back in 2021. Now, the TV personality has revealed that after quitting alcohol, Mark began to suffer with jealousy.

Nadia told the ITV show: “My kids hate it what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger but I think that it probably has with Mark and I. I think about when things have been really tough in our marriage and we’ve thought, ‘God we’re not going to get through this’ but then we do.

“For him, it definitely would have been points through my menopause when I was a screaming banshee nutter. I was very difficult, I was awful.”

As for his behaviour that she struggled him, Nadia said: “He’s been brilliant with his sobriety and then after the sobriety, after he got sober, he cross-addicted a lot to jealousy and the jealousy was just awful. It was so bad.

“When we went to couples’ counselling, I said that unless you do some work on this, we’re not going to survive it. It’s something that’s made me love him even more that he’s done work on that.”

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Sarah Palin’s family was thrust into the national spotlight in 2008 when Sen. John McCain picked her to be his GOP running mate in the campaign for president.

Now, after years of attention that accompanied Palin’s role as a popular and controversial conservative advocate and media personality, the family is once again under scrutiny, this time after her eldest son was arrested on suspicion of breaking into his parents’ home and beating his father.

Painful new details emerged Monday about the arrest of Track Palin, who at one point pleaded with his father to shoot him, according to a police affidavit. The document said his father, Todd, was brandishing a gun but refused to shoot.

After his arrest Saturday, Track Palin, 28, was charged with first-degree burglary, fourth-degree assault and criminal mischief. He remains in custody. The police affidavit, contained in a court filing, describes a chaotic scene at the family’s home in Wasilla, Alaska, when Palin confronted his father over a truck he wanted to pick up.

Todd Palin had told him not to come to the home because Track Palin had been drinking and taking pain medication, according to the affidavit and charging documents.

“Track told him he was [going to] come anyway to beat his ass,” according to an affidavit filed by Wasilla Police Officer Adam LaPointe.

When Todd Palin, 53, confronted his son at the door with a pistol, the younger Palin broke a window and entered the house and started beating his father, according to court filings. Palin pushed his father to the ground and hit him repeatedly on the head, the documents say.

Sarah Palin called police at 8:30 p.m. and said her son was “freaking out and was on some type of medication.”

When police arrived, they saw Todd and Sarah Palin fleeing the house in separate vehicles, Todd Palin with blood running down his face and Sarah Palin looking “visibly upset,” the documents say.

Police confronted Track Palin in the home. He called them “peasants” and told them to lay down their weapons, according to the documents. Eventually, Palin left the house and was placed in handcuffs.

He told police that when he arrived at the house, his father aimed his gun at him, and he urged his father to shoot him several times before entering the house, according to the documents.

When policed interviewed Todd Palin, he was bleeding from multiple cuts to his head, and one ear was discharging liquid, the documents say. There is no record of an interview with Sarah Palin; the Wasilla Police Department did not respond to a question about whether its officers interviewed her.

A judge set Track Palin’s bail at $5,000. He remains in custody at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer, Alaska. Palmer Dist. Atty. Roman J. Kalytiak said that if Palin remains in custody, his office must take the case to the grand jury within 10 days. If Palin pays bail and is released, prosecutors will have 20 days to go before the grand jury.

An attorney for Sarah and Todd Palin declined to comment on the case.

“Given the nature of actions addressed … by law enforcement and the charges involved, the Palins are unable to comment further,” John Tiemessen said in a statement. “They ask that the family’s privacy is respected during this challenging situation just as others dealing with a struggling family member would also request.”

Todd Palin declined to comment about the incident, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

“We’re fine. We’re fine,” he said when asked whether he sought medical treatment.

Sarah Palin has not commented publicly about the encounter. On social media, she has continued to offer her take on current events and politics.

The incident is the latest controversy involving the Palins since McCain picked Sarah Palin to be his running mate in 2008. At the time, she had been governor of Alaska for less than two years and was a relative unknown in the Lower 48 states. Just days after Palin was named as the vice presidential nominee, she acknowledged that her unmarried teenage daughter Bristol was pregnant.

In the aftermath of the campaign, she faced criticism over her behavior and her spending habits.

In 2014, the family was involved in a drunken brawl on Todd Palin’s birthday, though no one was charged. Track Palin, shirtless and bleeding, “appeared heavily intoxicated and he acted belligerent” during his initial interaction with police officers, according to an Anchorage Police Department report.

In January 2016, Track Palin was arrested on suspicion of punching his girlfriend at the same Wasilla home. He pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while intoxicated and took a plea deal that resulted in other charges being dismissed. His girlfriend later filed for custody of their child and sought a protective order against him.

At the time of that arrest, Sarah Palin was campaigning for then-candidate Donald Trump during the GOP primaries and caucuses. She alluded to her son’s arrest during a campaign rally, suggesting that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from a military deployment in Iraq.

She described soldiers “who come home from the battlefield bringing new battles with them [and] coming back different than when they left for the war zone.”

“When my own son is going through what he goes through coming back, I can certainly relate to other families who feel these ramifications of PTSD,” she said, before accusing then-President Obama of not respecting veterans.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Palin frequently spoke of her son’s service in the military. He was stationed in Iraq during most of the general election campaign.

McCain’s selection eventually proved unpopular among some conservatives who questioned whether Palin had the experience and knowledge to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

But Palin’s folksy personality and colloquialisms strongly resonated with the party’s base, and she became a powerful force in national GOP politics after her and McCain’s loss. She resigned as governor the following year but was a frequent presence in the media and on the campaign trail as a forceful critic of President Obama and an early supporter of the tea party. Palin sparred with the GOP establishment, and her endorsement swung Republican primary races and drew dollars.

She was the subject of several books as well as a documentary by Stephen K. Bannon. She starred in a television show and flirted with a presidential run in 2012. Her prominence has waned since then, but she remains a popular draw among socially conservative voters.

Todd and Sarah Palin met in high school and wed in 1988. He worked in oil production on the North Slope of Alaska and as a commercial fisherman. Todd Palin, a champion snowmobile racer, liked to refer to himself as the “first dude” when his wife was governor.

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For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

UPDATES:

6:40 p.m.: This article has been updated with additional background.

3:50 p.m.: This article has been updated with background, Wasilla police not responding to question about Sarah Palin.

1:40 p.m.: This article has been updated with statements from the Palins’ attorney and a district attorney.

This article was originally posted at 12:50 p.m.

July 21 (UPI) — The following account was presented by Jihyang Kim at a recent forum of the North Korean Young Leaders’ Assembly held at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. The assembly is an annual event gathering young North Korean escapees to engage with the U.S. executive and congressional branches, think tanks and NGOs.

My name is Jihyang Kim. I escaped from North Korea in the spring of 2012, when I was 19 years old. Today, I stand before you not only as a Fulbright scholar pursuing my master’s degree in the United States, but also as a survivor — and a witness — of the brutal realities of life under a communist regime. I want to share with you how the ideology of communism stripped me and millions of others of our basic rights, dignity, and dreams.

1: North Korea – A life determined by the state

Growing up under North Korea’s totalitarian rule, I was taught that the state came before the individual, that loyalty to the regime was more important than personal dreams and that questioning the system was dangerous.

As a young girl, I dreamed of becoming a novelist. I was fascinated by literature and wanted to study Japanese to read detective novels in their original language. Despite being the top student in my class, I couldn’t apply for the language school because my family couldn’t afford the required bribe. In North Korea, merit is meaningless without political loyalty or financial backing.

This was my first clear experience of how the system worked — not for the people, but against them. The promise of equality under communism was a lie. Instead, I saw corruption, oppression and injustice. That cognitive dissonance planted the seed of rebellion in me. I began to question the system I had been raised to worship.

The second turning point came in 2009, when the North Korean regime implemented a disastrous currency reform. Overnight, our savings became worthless. I still remember seeing the old bills scattered in the market like trash. Inflation soared and food vanished. My family starved. I lie on the cold floor, too weak to move, and decided to risk everything for a chance at life. I realized if I stayed, I would die, anyway, not with dignity, but in silence.

2: China – Escaping the regime, entering another cage

Crossing the border into China did not mean freedom. It meant becoming stateless — an invisible person with no rights, no protection and no home. I was no longer hungry, but I was no longer human, either. The Chinese government does not recognize North Korean defectors as refugees, so we are hunted like criminals, deported if caught. I became one of the many North Korean women sold into forced marriages, treated as property and silenced through violence.

At 19, I watched university students — my peers– walk past me in the streets. I didn’t envy their clothes or phones. I envied their freedom to dream. I heard villagers joke about “buying” North Korean brides and brag about beating them if they tried to escape. I lived in fear, not only for myself, but for my baby. I became a mother in China, but I could not offer my son legal protection, education or safety. I was a mother in name, but powerless in reality.

3: Still trapped in the system’s shadows

Today, I’m grateful. I am studying in the United States, supported by countless people who believe in me. But I have not forgotten the millions still trapped under the same system that nearly destroyed me. North Korea’s regime continues to control every aspect of its citizens’ lives: movement, thoughts, speech, even love.

In China, over 10,000 North Korean women remain trapped in forced relationships, their human rights violated daily (North Korea Human Rights Information Center, 2023). In 2017, South Korean news media reported that 20% of these women are forced into online sexual exploitation. Worse still, around 10,000 children born to these undocumented women have no legal identity. They cannot go to school, receive medical care or even prove their existence. These are not isolated tragedies. These are the long shadows cast by communist authoritarianism.

4: Why this matters

People often ask me why I risked my life to escape. My answer is simple: because I wanted to live with dignity. Under communism, I was denied that right. The ideology promised equality, but delivered only fear, hunger and silence. It punished ambition, crushed individuality and destroyed families.

What I experienced is not just a personal story — it is a warning. Communism, when weaponized by dictatorship, erases the human spirit. It uses beautiful words like “justice” and “equality” to hide systems of control and cruelty.

I am no longer a voiceless girl hiding in a dark room. I am here to speak for those who still cannot. I am here to tell you that the victims of communism are not just numbers in a textbook. They are children who starve, women who are sold and dreamers who are silenced.

I survived. And now, I speak — not because I am brave, but because silence is complicity.

Thank you.

Jihyang Kim, a North Korean escapee and Fulbright scholar, was born in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province. She escaped from North Korea in 2012, driven by the famine and skyrocketing inflation that followed the country’s disastrous currency reform. After fleeing to China, where she lived as a non-person and suffered exploitation for several years, she managed to reach South Korea in 2016. Despite only having an elementary education, Jihyang excelled academically in South Korea, earning numerous awards. In college, she championed social integration between South Koreans and North Korean escapees. Jihyang is passionate about education, which she believes is the foundation for personal and community transformation. She is preparing for the opportunity to empower North Korean youth with high-quality, democratic education after reunification.

Call the Midwife star Helen George has been a firm favourite on the BBC show for her role as Nurse Trixie Franklin, but what is known of her life away from the cameras?

Since her debut on Call the Midwife in 2012, Helen George has become popular with fans of the show for her portrayal of Trixie Aylward (formally Franklin).

Audiences have followed her character’s intense journeys, from conquering alcoholism to embarking on a new chapter when she married Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) and embraced stepmotherhood.

In a switch from her traditional BBC role, fans are now getting to see a different side to Helen as she dives into the reality TV world with ITV’s Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters.

With the BBC actress stepping out of her nurse’s uniform, curiosity about her personal life has piqued. We’re exploring Helen’s life behind the cameras.

BBC romance

Helen met fellow actor Jack Ashton, known as Reverend Tom Hereward on Call the Midwife, in 2015.

Their paths may have been tumultuous on television, yet off-set, a real-life love story was blossoming between the two.

Love struck for the pair in 2016 during the shooting of the series’ Christmas Special in the picturesque landscape of South Africa, reports the Express.

The couple soon welcomed their baby girl, Wren, into the world in 2017, followed by the birth of their second daughter, Lark, four years later in 2021.

Regrettably, after seven years, the duo parted ways in 2023. They shared in a poignant statement at the time: “Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus, and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter.”

Deep-rooted fear

Fans of Call the Midwife are in for a treat as they get to see Helen George in a fresh light, as she joins the star-studded line-up of ITV’s Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters.

However, participating in the series was far from a walk in the park for the 41-year-old actress, who had to confront one of her deepest fears.

Helen suffers with aquaphobia, an extreme and irrational fear of water, which she developed following a harrowing incident at a swimming party when she was a child.

In her own words, she said: “I was terrified of putting my head underwater. I have a real deep-rooted fear. I used to love the water when I was really young, but I went to a swimming party when I was six.

She continued: “They put those weird Nineties foam mats down. They’re massive yoga mats, really. “I just remember this moment of being stuck underneath one and not being able to get out. There was that fear of being trapped.”

Painful condition

Interestingly, Helen’s personal health journey has also mirrored some storylines in Call the Midwife. During both her pregnancies, she suffered from intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP), a condition characterised by intense itching and leading to the premature birth of her two children.

Sharing her experience on social media, Helen expressed gratitude towards the medical team at Guys and St Thomas who assisted her during childbirth.

Reflecting on her challenging pregnancy experience, she shared her ordeal on Instagram, saying: “I started getting the itch a lot earlier with this pregnancy, and it was infuriating. I tried everything, creams, baths all of it and nothing would work.”

She continued to describe the relentless discomfort: “I would scratch all day and all night, normally on my hands, shoulders, feet but that quickly increased to just bl**dy everywhere. I was put onto medication (Urso) at around 30 wks.

“I have to say this pregnancy was so uncomfortable and painful. I thought the second would be easier but it really wasn’t. Spreading the word about this sometimes fatal condition is really important to me. I was over the moon that Call the Midwife tackled the subject last night.”

As the waters off England, Ireland, Wales and even as far north as Scotland get warmer, they become a more favourable environment for the reproduction and survival of jellyfish

Jellyfish populations have ‘exploded’ off the UK coast, with a marine biologist warning that stingrays could be next.

As the waters off England, Ireland, Wales and even as far north as Scotland get warmer, they become a more favourable environment for the reproduction and survival of jellyfish, leading to a booming population of them in British and Irish seas – and even rivers.

In 2023, a report by the Marine Conservation Society revealed a 32% rise in jellyfish sightings in UK and Irish waters over 12 months, with 11% of those spotted coming in large blooms of over 100 individuals. That is an increase of 57% from the year before.

While the blobby creatures are fascinating to look at and wobble with a spade when they get marooned on the sand, they can, in many cases, deliver a painful sting to bathers. Although in the UK none are known to be fatal, they can seriously ruin a day at the beach.

Even more so if you fall for the old wives’ remedy of urine, which not only doesn’t get rid of the pain, it can make it worse.

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Genevieve Watson, biologist and water data consultant at KISTERS, explains why jellyfish are becoming a more common sight in the waters off Britain.

“Rising sea temperatures are having a direct impact on marine life in all kinds of ways. Warmer waters can expand the habitat of marine species such as stingrays and jellyfish, allowing them to thrive in our coastal regions – areas that would have previously been too cold for them,” she said.

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“This is something that feels particularly noticeable as we are seeing these changes happening within our lifetimes. Few of us will look back to our childhood and remember ever seeing a stingray or jellyfish in the water at the seaside, but actually, for our children and grandchildren, this could be an increasingly common sight.

“It’s most noticeable with jellyfish, as they are able to thrive in conditions that other marine life may not, because of their higher resilience to warmer temperatures. We’ve seen increased reports over recent years of jellyfish blooms on the Welsh coast as their population has exploded due to increasingly warm waters, it’s highly possible that stingrays could be next.”

There are multiple jellyfish species currently living in UK waters. They are:

• Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita): This jellyfish has a translucent dome shaped bell with four distinct horseshoe-shaped purple rings (called gonads) visible through its bell. This jellyfish delivers a mild sting. The most commong jellyfish in british waters, hundreds of these have been spotted in the waters and washed up near Porthmadog this month.
• Lion’s Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata): This jellyfish is usually a yellow, orange or brown colour and is famous for its long and trailing tentacles. It can deliver a painful sting if you encounter it while swimming.
• Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo): This large mushroom shaped jellyfish can be white, baby pink or pale blue and is sometimes fringed with purple markings, it has a large, robust bell and is usually white or pale blue. Its sting is usually mild.
• Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella): This jellyfish has a clear or yellow-tinted bell and has distinctive brown markings that radiate from its centre like a compass. It can deliver a painful sting. These are fequently spotted on the waters around Anglesey.
• Mauve Stinger (Pelagia noctiluca): As its name would suggest, this jellyfish has a deep purple coloured bell with dark wart-like patterns. It has four frilled arms and eight long tentacles. Another jellyfish known for its painful sting.
• Portuguese Man o’ War (Physalia physalis): Technically not a jellyfish; however, if its long, venomous tentacles deliver a serious sting, you’re unlikely to be too worried about technicalities. Its trailing tentacles are attached to a distinctive blue, balloon-like float. Keep pets and children away from them if spotted.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the images of children being killed during Israel’s war on Gaza are “painful” and have left him “deeply troubled”.

The Spanish manager of the English Premier League club urged the world to speak up instead of choosing to stay silent “in the face of injustice” as he addressed an audience after receiving an honorary degree at the University of Manchester on Monday.

“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all my body,” Guardiola said.

“Maybe we think that when we see four-year-old boys and girls being killed by bombs or being killed at a hospital, which is not a hospital any more, it’s not our business. Yeah, fine, it’s not our business. But be careful – the next four- or five-year-old kids will be ours.”

Mentioning his three children – Maria, Marius and Valentina – Guardiola said that every morning “since the nightmare started” in Gaza, whenever he sees his two daughters and son he is reminded of the children in Gaza, which leaves him feeling “so scared”.

About half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are children.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 17,400 children, including 15,600 who have been identified, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Many more remain buried under the rubble and are presumed dead.

Many of the surviving children have endured the trauma of multiple wars, and all of them have spent their lives under an oppressive Israeli blockade.

Over the past 20 months, Israeli attacks have left their homes in ruins, destroyed their schools, and overwhelmed their healthcare facilities.

‘Deeply troubled’ by wars

During his emotional speech, which has been widely shared on social media, Guardiola said the world remains silent in the face of injustice.

“We feel safer [staying silent] than speaking up,” he added.

“Maybe this image feels far away from where we are living now, and you might ask what we can do,” he added.

He then went on to narrate the story of a bird trying to put out a fire in a forest by repeatedly carrying water in its beak.

“In a world that often tells us we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me the power of one is not about the scale – it’s about choice, about showing up, about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most.”

The former Barcelona coach and player said the images out of Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine left him “deeply troubled”.

Guardiola, who has formerly voiced his support for the independence of his native Catalonia, lashed out at world leaders for their inability to stop the wars.

“We see the horrors of thousands and thousands of innocent children, mothers and fathers.

“Entire families suffering, starving and being killed and yet we are surrounded by leaderships in many fields, not just politicians, who don’t consider the inequality and injustice.”

An independent United Nations commission report released on Tuesday accused Israel of committing the crime against humanity of “extermination” by attacking Palestinian civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites in Gaza.

“While the destruction of cultural property, including educational facilities, was not in itself a genocidal act, evidence of such conduct may nevertheless infer genocidal intent to destroy a protected group,” the report said.

While the report focused on the impact on Gaza, the commission also reported significant consequences for the Palestinian education system in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem as a result of ramped-up Israeli military activity, harassment of students and settler attacks.

“Children in Gaza have lost their childhood. With no education available, they are forced to worry about survival amid attacks, uncertainty, starvation and subhuman living conditions,” the report added.

“What is particularly disturbing is the widespread nature of the targeting of educational facilities, which has extended well beyond Gaza, impacting all Palestinian children.”

“It’s so painful, what we see in Gaza … And let me be clear, this is not about ideology.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola discusses his views on Israel’s war on Gaza, as well as how the images of children living through the war have affected him as a parent. pic.twitter.com/zwrlexAcxa

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 10, 2025

In 2010, Israeli forces stormed the Mavi Marmara, a ship in a flotilla trying to break the siege on Gaza. The raid left 10 people dead. Now, a new vessel, the Madleen, has set sail with the same mission – and the same risks. Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal witnessed the 2010 raid firsthand and reflects on its lasting impact.

BELLY fat increases your risk of the skin condition psoriasis, a study warns.

Psoriasis, which affects one in 50 people – including reality TV star Kim Kardashian – causes scaly patches of skin usually around the scalp, knees and elbows.

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The 44-year-old has previously opened up about her struggle with the condition she described as ‘painful’.

Model Cara Delevingne and singer Cyndi Lauper are also sufferers.

Researchers at King’s College London analysed data from over 330,000 Brits, including more than 9,000 people with psoriasis. 

They found that abdominal fat was strongly linked to someone’s likelihood of having the condition, particularly for women. 

Study author Dr Ravi Ramessur said: “Our research shows that where fat is stored in the body matters when it comes to psoriasis risk. 

“Central fat, especially around the waist, seems to play a key role. 

“This has important implications for how we identify individuals who may be more likely to develop psoriasis or experience more severe disease, and how we approach prevention and treatment strategies.”

Psoriasis typically begins in someone’s 20s or 50s.

It’s not known what causes the incurable, and therefore chronic, condition.

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It is thought that a problem with the immune system causes the skin cells to replace faster than they should. It is therefore sometimes referred to as an autoimmune disorder.

Dr Ramessur says: “The observed links between central body fat and psoriasis suggest that there may be underlying biological mechanisms contributing to the disease that are not yet fully understood and which warrant further investigation.”

In light of the new findings, experts said Ozempic-style fat jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, may help people with psoriasis. 

Dr Joel Gelfand, Department of Dermatology and Center for Clinical Sciences in Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, wrote in an accompanying editorial: “The strong relationship between psoriasis and obesity, and the emerging promise of GLP-1 RAs, is a call to action for clinical trials.”

Dr Catherine Smith, senior author, said: “As rates of obesity continue to rise globally, understanding how different patterns of body fat influence chronic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis is important.”

How to get rid of belly fat

Most of us have tried to shift belly fat at some point – it can be stubborn and takes some hard work.

Personal trainer Lucy Gornall previously shared with The Sun her non-negotiables if your goal is to lose the extra chub around your middle.

These include:

1. Fill your plate with as many coloured fruits and vegetables as you can.

“These are the fruits and vegetables which pack in nutrients and fibre, but contain very few calories,” Lucy says.

Fibre fills you up and therefore prevents overeating.

2. Don’t overdo the cardio.

“Going hard on runs, cycles and other types of cardio, is NOT the best way to burn belly fat,” says Lucy.

“It will leave you tired (you’ll be turning to high sugar snacks for energy), it will leave you sore, and it will leave you very hungry.”

3. Instead, lift weights.

“More muscle means more calories burnt at rest, meaning you burn off the food you eat easier than if you had less muscle,” says Lucy.

“Aim to include three 30 to 45 minute resistance-based training sessions each week, ensuring that the weight is challenging and your form is correct.”

4. Eat protein

Protein is the most filling food you can eat (over carbohydrates and fats) and helps with muscle recovery from all that weight training you’ll be doing.

“Look to include a source of protein in every meal and you won’t go too far wrong,” says Lucy, noting chicken breast and lean turkey mince are good sources.

5. Move more generally.

Increase your NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) by doing things like taking the stairs over the lift and walking home from an earlier train or tube station.