For most people, burping is an ordinary bodily function. For Jade Thirlwall, it has never happened. The former Little Mix star has revealed she has spent her entire life unable to burp because of a rare condition called Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction, or R-CPD.

The condition, sometimes known as 'no burp syndrome', has also left her dealing with bloating and unwanted comments about her body while performing onstage.

Jade Reveals Her Lifelong Inability To Burp

Thirlwall, 33, disclosed her diagnosis while commenting on a TikTok video by content creator Gemma Renwick, who has spoken publicly about living with R-CPD.

'Omg I finally feel so seen and understood,' Thirlwall wrote.

The singer explained that being unable to burp had previously seemed like little more than an unusual fact about herself, but the condition had caused problems throughout her life.

'It's always been a fun fact that I can't burp but it's caused issues my whole life,' she said.

Thirlwall also pushed back against people commenting on her appearance during performances, explaining that what they may interpret as changes in her body can actually be related to bloating caused by the condition.

R-CPD Stops the Body From Releasing Trapped Gas

R-CPD affects the cricopharyngeus muscle, which sits at the top of the oesophagus and forms part of the upper oesophageal sphincter. Normally, this muscle relaxes to allow air to pass out of the oesophagus through the mouth or nose.

With R-CPD, the muscle fails to relax properly, preventing air from escaping through the upper oesophageal sphincter.

The Cleveland Clinic says the exact cause remains unknown, although doctors believe the problem relates to how the muscle functions rather than a structural abnormality.

For people who have never been able to burp, the condition can be difficult to recognise because the symptom may simply seem like an unusual bodily quirk.

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'Throtox' Could Help the Muscle Relax

Renwick explained in her video that she had undergone a procedure informally known as 'throtox', which involves injecting Botox into the cricopharyngeus muscle.

The treatment aims to temporarily relax the muscle, allowing trapped air to escape and giving patients the ability to burp. Yale Medicine reports that many patients experience significant symptom relief after a single Botox injection, although some may require further treatment.

Thirlwall said she would like to try the procedure but has one major concern.

'I want to get the throtox but worried it will affect my vocals,' she said.

That concern is particularly relevant for the singer, whose voice remains central to her solo career following Little Mix.

Her Diagnosis Changes How She Sees the Bloating

Thirlwall also shared Renwick's petition calling for greater NHS access to treatment for R-CPD.

Renwick said she hoped her experience could help other people recognise that their symptoms may have a medical explanation.

Thirlwall had previously revealed in 2023 that she had never burped, joking, 'I've never burped in my life but I'm still stunning.' At the time, she did not publicly identify R-CPD as the reason.

Her latest disclosure gives that lifelong quirk a medical explanation while highlighting how a condition that can appear harmless may affect comfort, digestion and confidence. For Thirlwall, the condition helps explain the bloating she says has prompted comments about her body.

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