Celiac and obesity

[weasel!]

I've been working on an article for a local publication about celiac disease -- specifically, about a local bakery that makes gluten-free baked goods. I came across an interesting -- and often unknown to mainstream doctors -- connection between celiac and obesity. Celiac patients can't digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac patients can't absorb nutrients from food, no matter how much they eat.

From my (as-yet unpublished) Celiac article:

[The NIH estimates that 1 in 133 Americans] may have the genetic autoimmune disorder known as celiac disease. When a celiac sufferer ingests gluten, a protein in those common grains, the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine, rendering that vital organ incapable of absorbing nutrients. No matter how much the person eats, they become malnourished. Results can include bloating and gas, fatigue, anemia, osteoporosis, seizures, mouth ulcers, infertility, emaciation or obesity -- and that’s just the short list.

At first, the phrase near the end of that passage was only going to read "emaciation," not "emaciation or obesity." I had found many references to the tendency of celiac sufferers to be underweight. Then, in my research for the story, I came upon a passing reference in a single source that said celiac might "lose weight or gain weight." This sounded odd, until I saw it through the lens of what I've been learning from Gary Taubes's book Good Calories, Bad Calories. So I started looking for more information.

According to the following article I found on celiac.com, up to 40% of celiac sufferers are obese. Melissa Croda, who wrote the article, suffered terribly with health problems all her life, and was obese at 300 pounds despite repeated attempts to lose weight ("tried every diet on the face of the earth"). When she was diagnosed with celiac, she stopped eating gluten and lost 100 pounds. Since then, she has encouraged friends to press their doctors for celiac testing, and several have turned up positive -- and lost weight.

Celiac Disease and Obesity—There is a Connection by Melissa Croda

Croda does not mention in her article whether her carbohydrate intake went down when she stopped eating gluten. A gluten-free diet is not necessarily low-carb, as rice, corn and other starchy grains do not contain gluten. Neither does gluten-free imply sugar free. This would be an interesting line of inquiry.

However, I am posting this as a possible thing for people who have trouble losing weight to ask their doctors about. Croda says her doctor "laughed out loud" when she asked him about celiac, because she was obese. Celiac is a serious disease that is terribly underdiagnosed. Anyone who thinks they might have it needs to read up on it (celiac.com is one great resource) and insist on proper testing.

Best wishes.

[3leggedtable]

Hi Weasel!

My husband has Celiac Sprue and is obese. He is 5'10 and weights about 255. He has been heavy since he was a child.

He probable eats about the same amount of carbs now as before he was diagnosed. In fact I think he has gained a little weight since he was diagnosed 4 years ago.

Good luck with your research.

[dae_tona]

I am more wheat intolerant than gltuen intolerant. But upon deciding to go gluten-free, I have discovered gluten in some of the most unlikely of places. Mainly? Tea (the sugar cookie tea has it in it) as well as Teeccino. It's amazing where that culprit hides.

The editor of Better Nutrition magazine follows South Beach since she decided to go gluten-free. (I think that's the magazine) You can even make Atkins a gluten-free diet (just be sure your ground beef is organic as manufacturers have a tendency to add gluten to it to make it look fresher-the best tip I ever got from a friend when deciding to go gluten-free)

I think we'd all do better without gluten in our diets.

And one thing to remember: just because something says gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy.

Dyan

[Dreamtrue]

I would like to be tested for that one day. I find I feel so much better when I give up bread, and I wonder if it is just the negation of the high dose of carbs in it or the gluten or wheat in it.

[maver11]

Hello, I am Melissa Croda who wrote the article listed below. I happened upon your post and thought I would answer your question about whether or not my carbohydrate intake went down. The answer is no - I just started eating differnt types of carbohydrate such as wild and brown rice, fresh potatoes, Fresh corn ect, I also didn't cut down on the sugar as I am a true chocolaholic. Now mind you the amount of refined carbohydrates that I now eat are much less than what I used to eat and I tend to eat more whole foods that are grown local and also eat with in season.
I hope this answers your question.


Celiac Disease and Obesity—There is a Connection by Melissa Croda

Croda does not mention in her article whether her carbohydrate intake went down when she stopped eating gluten. A gluten-free diet is not necessarily low-carb, as rice, corn and other starchy grains do not contain gluten. Neither does gluten-free imply sugar free. This would be an interesting line of inquiry.

However, I am posting this as a possible thing for people who have trouble losing weight to ask their doctors about. Croda says her doctor "laughed out loud" when she asked him about celiac, because she was obese. Celiac is a serious disease that is terribly underdiagnosed. Anyone who thinks they might have it needs to read up on it (celiac.com is one great resource) and insist on proper testing.

Best wishes.[/QUOTE]

[AllieCat0817]

Originally Posted by maver11

Hello, I am Melissa Croda who wrote the article listed below. I happened upon your post and thought I would answer your question about whether or not my carbohydrate intake went down. The answer is no - I just started eating differnt types of carbohydrate such as wild and brown rice, fresh potatoes, Fresh corn ect, I also didn't cut down on the sugar as I am a true chocolaholic. Now mind you the amount of refined carbohydrates that I now eat are much less than what I used to eat and I tend to eat more whole foods that are grown local and also eat with in season.
I hope this answers your question.


Celiac Disease and Obesity—There is a Connection by Melissa Croda

Croda does not mention in her article whether her carbohydrate intake went down when she stopped eating gluten. A gluten-free diet is not necessarily low-carb, as rice, corn and other starchy grains do not contain gluten. Neither does gluten-free imply sugar free. This would be an interesting line of inquiry.

However, I am posting this as a possible thing for people who have trouble losing weight to ask their doctors about. Croda says her doctor "laughed out loud" when she asked him about celiac, because she was obese. Celiac is a serious disease that is terribly underdiagnosed. Anyone who thinks they might have it needs to read up on it (celiac.com is one great resource) and insist on proper testing.

Best wishes.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks for posting here, and welcome!

[jem51]

my daughter was tested for celiac during her IBS problem and was negative. she was well over 200#. her naturopath started her on 'breaking the vicious cycle/ and she lost a whole lot of weight. as you may know, that diet eliminates all grain and sugars but not fruit and allows some beans. she didn't eat real low carb and made smoothies out of losts of fruit. but when you eliminate grains and sugars, it's really hard to eat the usual american amount of carbs. she still tends to gain eating ANY grain product.

[nonstickpam107]

I was negative on the new blood test (well, new when I had it, lol) and my positive came with a biopsy of the small bowel. I also have HIE (why wouldn't I also be gluten intolerant, heh?) and other autoimmune diseases, besides Celiac.

I went to lowcarbing BECAUSE I was so sick with Celiac and a hyper IgE (gosh, allergic to just about everything that came under my nose! And still am!). It changed my life...no rice, no sugar, no crap food....I was overweight my entire life until I went lowcarb. My endo told me right off that he figured my overweight was from Celiac as well as from eating too many carbs in general. I thought the overweight comment was strange at first...but the only thin Celiacs I'VE ever met IRL are children/adolescents. Almost all the adults are overweight, not underweight.

Pam