The common condition that you've probably never heard of

Sophie Davies, lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, on diverticular disease

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IT'S not something people often talk about at the dinner table, but your gut health plays a huge role in your overall wellbeing. And one of the most common conditions affecting the large intestine is diverticular disease.

Diverticular disease or diverticulosis is where small bulges or pouches (called diverticula) form in the wall of the colon, often due to a weakening in the muscle layer.

These pouches are usually harmless, but in some cases they can become inflamed or infected - a condition known by the slightly different name of diverticulitis.

Around 70% of people in western countries will have developed diverticular disease by the time they reach 80. It’s also increasingly showing up in younger adults, which may be linked to the low-fibre, highly processed nature of many modern diets.

UK dietary surveys show that people are currently consuming only 60% of their recommended daily fibre intake.

The reasons some people develop diverticular disease and others don’t aren’t fully understood. However, several factors have been identified as contributors, including the structure and movement of the colon, diet, fibre intake, obesity, physical activity and genetics.

Most people with diverticular disease don’t experience symptoms.