What is anaemia as Olivia Attwood leaves I'm a Celebrity and other celebrity sufferers

Olivia Attwood has opened up about why she was forced to leave ITV’s I’m A Celebrity 2022 as her shock departure was announced 24 hours after her entrance.

The Love Island star had taken part in the first Bushtucker trial alongside campmates Boy George, Chris Moyles and Scarlette Douglas, and had jumped out of a helicopter in her short stint on the show, but revealed she had to exit as she was ‘dangerously anaemic.’

Olivia explained on This Morning that she underwent a routine blood check when the results showed her iron, potassium and sodium levels were extremely low thus needing a trip to A&E.

The former model’s bloods were fine in the UK before flying to Australia and came back all clear when testing at the hospital, but medical professionals were worried about Olivia’s health should she go back into camp.

It was reported that Olivia said: “I was so scared, I was like ‘what the hell is wrong with me?’ I was confused and of course very, very worried.”

As a result, Olivia left Down Under ‘heartbroken’ and ‘gutted’ after stating that her dream of appearing on I’m A Celebrity, which was five years in the making, was done.

So, what is the health condition that worried so many health experts and cost Olivia her place in the 2022 show?

What is anaemia?

According to the World Health Organisation, anaemia is “a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal,” and can either last short-term or for a lifetime.

Haemoglobin is used to carry Oxygen to your body’s tissues so the lack thereof could result in a person suffering from fatigue, weakness, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Basically - anaemia is a condition that stops your body from getting the energy it needs to function properly, and it is the most common nutritional disorder across the world.

The most common form of anaemia is Iron deficiency, which can be solved through dietary changes such as eating red meat or spinach which is high in iron, however, not all types of anaemia can be resolved as easily.

Untreated anaemia can make the person more at risk of illness or infection as the lack of iron or red blood cells affects your immune system. In addition, anaemia can increase the chances of developing lung or heart complications.

Who else suffers from low iron levels?

While Olivia Attwood is now speaking about her trials and tribulations with anaemia, she is not the first female celebrity to open up about their deficiency.

Singer Selena Gomez, who also suffers with lupus, was hospitalised in 2011 after she found out she was deficient in iron and was exhausted as a result.

The Come and Get It vocalist had to rearrange some of her concerts due to her illness, and said: “I was just very malnourished, so I was low in iron and exhausted.”

Despite her iron serve, tennis legend Venus Williams has also revealed she struggles with anaemia but as part of a larger auto-immune condition called Sjögren’s Syndrome.

It was reported that the seven time Grand Slam champ experiences dizziness, lack of energy and nausea.

Lastly, Maleficent turned into Sleepy Beauty as Angelina Jolie got very sick in 2010 when she turned to a Vegan diet, as although leafy greens are known for their Iron levels but are not enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle.