Reality TV star and media personality Katie Price has ignited serious concerns for her wellbeing after publicly confessing to an addiction to vaping and sharing a stark medical warning on social media.
Family history fuels anxiety over vaping habit
The mother-of-five posted a disturbing X-ray image of a damaged lung to her Instagram stories, accompanied by the caution: "Vaping has officially been linked to rare and irreversible lung disease." She added her own handwritten note, stating firmly, "I have to stop." This public admission has particularly alarmed her family, given their painful personal history with lung illness.
Katie's 73-year-old mother, Amy Price, has been battling terminal Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) for several years. The condition causes scarring of the lungs and progressively hinders breathing. Amy underwent a lung transplant in 2022 but remains seriously unwell, occasionally requiring a wheelchair and needing to carry oxygen.
A struggle to quit despite mounting pressure
Despite the clear health warnings and family pleas, Katie has found it exceedingly difficult to break the habit. A source close to the star revealed, "Katie needs to stop for health reasons and, obviously, her family members have been very worried." They explained that stress is a major trigger, saying, "She's so stressed and it [vaping] is simply her way of releasing that stress. It's also very addictive and as we know, Katie's got a very addictive personality."
Her nearly two-year partner, former Married At First Sight contestant JJ Slater, is said to be especially concerned but feels powerless to intervene. The source added, "JJ is concerned about her, but there's only so much he can do. Katie's under severe stress and just has one thing after another to contend with."
A pattern of public vaping controversies
This is not the first time Katie's vaping has caused worry or controversy:
- In October 2023, her sister Sophie begged her to stop during an episode of their shared podcast, The Katie Price Show.
- In November 2024, she sparked outrage after being filmed vaping on a train, where it is banned on most networks.
- In March 2025, she faced online fury after being pictured vaping in front of her four-month-old niece, Olive.
- During her recent live tour with friend Kerry Katona, she was witnessed using a vape device, and fans later claimed she was vaping on stage.
If Katie attempts to quit again, it will not be her first effort. She previously pledged to stop a couple of years ago, even suggesting at the time that vaping may have caused one of her teeth to fall out. On her podcast, she admitted, "I am going to stop it because I don't know why I do it... I swear it is the vape."
With the shadow of her mother's debilitating illness looming large, the health implications of her habit are painfully clear. Public Health England maintains that vaping is 95% safer than smoking, but the NHS acknowledges it is not without risk. For Katie Price and her worried family, the struggle to overcome this 'toxic habit' continues amidst a backdrop of personal stress and profound family health concerns.
