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Diverticula are small pouches of tissue that bulge outward from your gut wall. They are most common in older people.

In the United States, doctors think that about:

• 10 in 100 people in their 40s have diverticula.
• 50 in 100 Americans in their 60s have diverticula.¹

About 20 in 100 people who have diverticula get symptoms (when it's called diverticular disease).²

Diverticular disease has been called a "disease of Western civilization" because it's most common in the United States, Europe and Australia. It's almost unknown in parts of Africa and Asia.^{3 4} This backs up the idea that diverticula have something to do with the Western diet, which tends to be low in fiber. Western vegetarians who eat lots of fiber are less likely to have diverticula than Western non-vegetarians.⁵

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.