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<channel><title><![CDATA[Celiac Disease & Gluten-free Diet Information at Celiac.com - Comments for article: Is a Gluten-free Diet an Effective Weight Loss Strategy?]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com</link><description /><language>en-us</language><copyright><![CDATA[http://www.celiac.com]]></copyright><generator>N/A</generator><webMaster>scott@celiac.com</webMaster><lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 14:47:08 PDT</lastBuildDate><ttl>20</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #1]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9314</link><description><![CDATA[Being on a gluten free diet does not guarantee weight loss. I have celiac disease and there are plenty of packaged foods (many more appearing) that are loaded with fat and sugar. The cake, cookie, pancake, scone, pizza crust, and brownie mixes are fattening. There are plenty of fattening foods that can be ingested when on a gluten free diet; cheese, peanut butter, candy, ice cream, etc.. People who go on a gluten free diet to lose weight do not know what they are talking about. I am thin because I exercise, eat very healthy, stay away from the gluten free packaged and processed foods. I could also pack on the pounds if I ate all of the gluten free foods available. Having to eat gluten free has its challenges and I wish people would stop thinking it is a fad diet. It is extremely serious for those of us diagnosed with celiac disease and an intolerance to gluten.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Kris Burckhard at 8:34 am, Mon 29th Aug 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Kris Burckhard)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:34:23 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9314</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #2]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9315</link><description><![CDATA[When I first started the GF diet, I lost 35 pounds within a very short time period because I didn't like the GF bread I could find, and wasn't eating many GF baked goods either due to the high cost.  Now that I have learned to bake good GF bread and other items, a lot of those lost pounds have come back.  So from my experience, I guess I would have to say that it depends on what type of GF foods you are eating, just as with gluten containing foods.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Jan at 9:53 am, Mon 29th Aug 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Jan)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:53:15 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9315</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #3]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9319</link><description><![CDATA[Finally a word of sense. I've seen an underweight celiac woman, who got so ill with malabsorption that she came down to 35 kilos, hair loss and constant hospitalizations before diagnosis, recover on a gluten free diet and even become a bit chubby. I've also seen myself losing some weight and any food cravings I might have had before the gluten-free diet. What I know for sure is that we are both happier now!<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Regina Helena at 10:19 am, Mon 29th Aug 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Regina Helena)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:19:02 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9319</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #4]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9331</link><description><![CDATA[When I went on a gluten free diet (and also dairy free) I experienced weight loss, but feel it was due to the type of food I was forced to eat to accommodate my gluten and dairy restrictions.  I no longer was eating ice cream and no longer used cheese in my recipes for meals.  Both of those things were high calorie foods that no doubt contributed to my being able to keep weight on, especially since I ate a lot of them.  I also gave up baked goods and sweets due to the fact that they were too expensive in gluten free form.  So I gave up another high calorie category of food.  The other category that I gave up was processed foods.  Many of them (most it seems at times) have gluten in them as well as high fructose corn syrup, etc.  Giving these up probably also contributed to lowering my overall calorie intake.  After giving up all these food categories, what's left?  Well, that would leave you with non-processed, healthy foods that are often low in calories.  If you lower your calorie intake, you tend to lose weight.  

You could get around this effect of the gluten free diet by buying all of the expensive calorie laden gluten free baked goods and sweets and end up consuming as many calories as you did before, thus not really losing any weight even though you were eating gluten free.  Or by getting really good at baking GF high calorie foods at home and eating a lot of them.  

So, is it the GF factor that leads to some losing weight on a GF diet, or is it the overall change to a lower calorie diet brought on by giving up the processed foods and baked goods that contain gluten, but also lots of calories?<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Kaymarie Jensen at 5:40 pm, Mon 29th Aug 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Kaymarie Jensen)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:40:45 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9331</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #5]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9351</link><description><![CDATA[I too have not lost weight on the celiac diet. I have gained at least 25 pounds and not been able to lose it in the 16 years I have been on the diet although I've tried. Wish I could lost at least 20 pounds of it.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by tina at 3:22 am, Tue 30th Aug 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (tina)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:22:04 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9351</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #6]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9368</link><description><![CDATA[Finally a word of sense. I've seen an underweight celiac woman, who got so ill with malabsorption that she came down to 35 kilos, hair loss and constant hospitalizations before diagnosis, recover on a gluten free diet and even become a bit chubby.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Finally at 12:13 am, Thu 1st Sep 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Finally)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:13:13 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9368</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #7]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9384</link><description><![CDATA[Very well balanced - distinguishing between anecdotal and scientific approaches to the question.  Other factors to be considered in the weight-loss or -gain question are (1) the level of regular exercise (2) the presence and control of other diseases that also impact the ability to gain or lose weight, such as hyper- or hypothyroidism (3) the ratio of the various food types in one's regular diet.  

Let's say "Diane" (not necessarily a fictitious name) is an overweight, sedentary individual with hypothyroidism who normally eats a diet a little too high in processed wheat & corn products, potatoes, animal and vegetable fats and hidden corn syrup.  Then let's say Diane starts a gluten-free diet due to a diagnosis of CD, although it could just as easily have been because she read that it works as a weight-loss program for her favorite movie star.  She reasons (or rationalizes) that she became overweight because with CD she was literally starving to death and her system responded by compelling her to eat.  

As she begins the diet change, she finds the cost of the gluten-free versions of her everyday diet to be prohibitive.  Soon, she decides the solution must be to make these foods at home, which is still more costly per serving, but within reason.   Then, as she makes cakes, cookies, biscuits or pasta, she discovers these things often have considerably more fat than the wheat-based versions.  Furthermore, it becomes obvious fairly quickly that making these delicious foods, rather than picking them up at the store on the way home from work, takes a lot more time out of the day.  Consequently, she sometimes finds herself having soup or salad for lunch instead of a sandwich, not having cookies on her afternoon break or skipping biscuits with dinner.  When she is at the grocery store, she shops more (and spends less money) around the perimeter of the store -- in the produce and (since she is not lactose intolerant) dairy sections.

Let's say Diane also finally gets the message about exercise from all her health care providers.  She doesn’t know that her favorite star was also doing about 2 hours of intense exercise daily, seven days a week – weights, stretching and aerobic.  Nevertheless, on her breaks and lunches at work, she walks on the nice days.  Eventually, she looks forward to the walks because they relieve a little tension that builds while hunched over her keyboard for the last 2 hours.

One day, Diane realizes that she has lost a couple pounds.  Now she is off and running - metaphorically.  She decides to keep doing more of the same and adding other healthy behaviors to her daily habits.  Weekends around the house include gardening.  Sodas are replaced with iced tea or limeade - sweetened with sugar rather than corn syrup.  She takes her dog with her for a spin on her bike.  Of course, now she will be begged by the dog to do that every day, rain or shine!

After a few years and the loss of several tens of pounds, what was the reason for the weight loss?  Was it the exercise?  Was it the gluten-free diet?  Was it a better mental state of mind?  Was it the absence of corn syrup?  Was it the higher fiber diet from fruits and vegetables? Was it the lower ratio of the high-fat processed breads and pasta along with more whole grains (not including wheat, rye or barley)?  Was it something in Diane's genetic composition that enabled any one or more of these factors to result in weight loss?  We may never know.  There are too many variables and too few researchers, let alone research subjects, to reach a valid science-based conclusion.  But, whatever it was, Diane is not complaining!<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Diane at 2:21 pm, Sat 3rd Sep 2011)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Diane)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:21:33 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment9384</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #8]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment10472</link><description><![CDATA[This is my personal story. I was fat since I was a child. I also had a upset stomach since I was a child. I ate less than everyone around me in my age group but yet I just grew fatter and fatter. By the time I was 13 I was over 200 lbs. By the time I was 28 I was 285. That's when I went to a doctor for my GI issues. He told me about the possibility of wheat being my problem. I was shocked by this. but I tried it. I am currently 185 one year later. I changed NOTHING else but what I eat. I love to cook so I went gluten free AND clean for the most part. I do enjoy a couple of slices of Rudi's Multigrain from time to time. But avoid the packaged stuff, eat from your kitchen, be gluten free. If you have been fat your entire life with no reason for it, think that gluten might just be your problem. 

But if you know you are overeating... don't bother. This only works for those of us who have an allergy.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by HA! at 11:21 am, Mon 30th Jan 2012)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (HA!)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:21:22 PST]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment10472</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #9]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment11639</link><description><![CDATA[I didn't read this entire article but I read about half of it. I have a similar story. My mom tried SO many diets everything from Atkins to South Beach to the Flatbelly diet to just eating healthy. Of course she did lose some weight but the majority of her weight came off when she started eating starch free because of her arthritis. She lost 60 pounds in a little less than a year. She also is an exercise freak and now she looks like a skeleton! And the weight is yet to come back like it did in previous diets. Also after this two of my grandparents and my uncle tried it and lost A LOT of weight. I started doing starch free to help with the body aches and the side benefits of weight loss about a week ago. All I can say, is my body feels better and healthier after a week! I haven't weighed myself to see results, but I don't really need to lose weight anyways. Its just good to be healthy. I don't understand how eating starch free could make you gain weight considering you're getting rid of all bread, potatoes, etc. It limits your choices and practically makes it impossible to eat fast food. Which of course would, in effect, make you lose weight. Just my opinion, I'm only 17 but I have seen better starch free weight loss stories than any other type of diet.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by McKenna at 6:44 am, Sat 2nd Jun 2012)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (McKenna)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:44:22 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment11639</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #10]]></title><link>http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment11760</link><description><![CDATA[Excellent. I am just starting on a gluten-free diet. I will let you know in a few weeks how it goes.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Rohini at 11:32 pm, Wed 13th Jun 2012)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Rohini)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 13 Jun 2012 23:32:54 PDT]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.celiac.com/articles/22642/1/Is-a-Gluten-free-Diet-an-Effective-Weight-Loss-Strategy/Page1.html#Comment11760</guid></item></channel></rss>