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Weight Problems

The stereotypical Celiac is a weak, frail, and emaciated person, practically a walking skeleton. So strong is this stereotype that many doctors will reject the possibility of Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance if the sick patient is not underweight. …

However, some gastroenterologists have noticed enough obesity in their celiac patients to question the stereotype. In fact, they have now noticed that most of their celiac patients are not underweight. Weight loss doesn’t always have to happen in people with malabsorption. As a body attempts to cope with partial malabsorption, a common reaction could be to increase appetite with a possible preference for easily digested or high caloric foods that make up the basis of Western diets.

A Northern Ireland hospital’s study observed that in as group 50 adult patients diagnosed as having uncomplicated celiac disease; 22% were underweight. 44% had a healthy weight. 28% were overweight! More Celiacs were obese than were underweight! Less than 1 in 4 Celiacs were underweight! [1] In the USA, where there is more obesity than in Northern Ireland, one might expect even fewer underweight people in a group of Celiacs.

Yes, gluten intolerance is a cause of weight loss, but it should also be recognized as a cause of weight gain as well.

Hey, Calontir!