Gemma Atkinson reveals her daughter Mia, 6, has been diagnosed with epilepsy after suffering absence seizures

by

Gemma Atkinson has shared that her six-year-old daughter, Mia, has been diagnosed with epilepsy and experiences absence seizures.

The actress, who is 40 years old, has two children: Mia and her 2-year-old son, Thiago. She shares them with her fiancé, Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Marquez, who is 35.

On the Just As Well, The Women’s Health Podcast, Gemma shared that Mia is being treated for epilepsy. This started after Mia began experiencing moments of lost awareness, where she would zone out.

Epilepsy is a brain condition that leads to seizures, sometimes known as fits. While there isn’t a cure right now, treatment can frequently help control the condition.

Absence seizures are a kind of epileptic seizure that cause a short period where you’re not fully aware of your surroundings.

Regarding her daughter’s health, Gemma explained: ‘It’s fascinating to see the connection between the keto diet and brain function, as my daughter is currently receiving treatment for epilepsy.’

She experiences absence seizures, which don’t involve any physical symptoms – it’s mainly just a blank stare. Thankfully, they’ve improved significantly over the past year.

Once I heard about it, I knew I had to do a lot of research, and I quickly became completely immersed in the topic. The keto diet was originally created for people with epilepsy because it changes how their brain works.

The former Hollyoaks actress shared that doctors recommended a keto diet for Mia, hoping it would boost her brain health.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand the power of dietary changes. A doctor suggested to a friend of mine that a keto diet could potentially boost brain function, and we decided to give it a try. Honestly, the results have been amazing! We’ve been carefully tracking her progress, and thankfully, for the last six months she hasn’t experienced any setbacks-touch wood! It’s incredibly encouraging to see such positive changes.

Honestly, the school says everything’s fine, and I haven’t spotted a single thing to worry about. She’s so consistent with her routine – an omelet every single morning for breakfast! And, okay, I admit it, I’ve been secretly adding collagen to her yoghurt. I just want to make sure she’s getting everything she needs, even if she doesn’t know it! It’s for her own good, I swear!

She explained that the keto diet originally began as a treatment for epilepsy. It was discovered in the 1930s and proved very effective at reducing symptoms.

However, shortly after this doctor made the discovery, a fire unexpectedly destroyed the hospital where he worked, along with all of his research and data.

Gemma recently revealed when her and Gorka will tie the knot as she shared a recent wedding update.

The radio host and professional dancer first connected in 2017 while working together on Strictly Come Dancing, although they weren’t paired as dance partners during the show.

I was so thrilled when I found out they were officially an item – their connection really blossomed quickly! They announced they were dating back in 2018, and then, just a few years later in February 2021, they shared the amazing news that they were getting engaged! It’s been wonderful to follow their journey.

And now Gemma has shared that the couple wants to postpone their wedding until their son is a little older. They hope he will be able to actively participate in the celebration when the time comes.

In an interview with the Express, she explained their plans: ‘We considered having the wedding in Spain so his family could attend, and we also discussed a more intimate ceremony – just the two of us – at a registry office or hotel in Manchester, followed by a larger celebration afterwards.’

I’ve been following this closely, and it seems like the team is leaning towards waiting until Thiago is a little older before making any big decisions. He’s only two right now, so they’re thinking maybe next year or even the year after that would be a better time. It makes sense to me – let him grow up a bit first!

‘If he’s a bit older, he could be involved in it, which would be really nice.’ 

Read More

2025-10-01 16:49