The Media Encourages Negative Social Behavior Towards Gluten-Free Dieters

Thank you!

Thank you for raising this issue. I thought perhaps I was being overly sensitive. A related issue is the proliferation of media articles claiming that most people who are on a gluten free diet do not need to be and do not even know what gluten is (based on unscientific survey someone claims to have done somewhere!), and giving dire warnings about the hazards of a gluten free diet. And that only people with doctor diagnosed celiac disease should ever avoid gluten. And that the problem is very rare. The media has the public convinced that we are just following a fad diet they know nothing about. I am getting sick of having acquaintances and relatives warn me about these things, as if they are concerned I am killing myself by not eating enough enriched flour. I used to politely give people a little education about the broader spectrum of gluten related disorders, including DH, and the difficulty of diagnosis. But lately have started to get a bit testy with them. As for waiters, I have even had them ask me if I was diagnosed by a physician and what happens if I eat gluten. I have resorted to just telling every waiter: "This is a medical issue not a lifestyle choice."

Thank you for a wonderful article. Unfortunately it's not just the media. I have doctors "roll their eyes" when I say I can't digest gluten and experience rather severe reactions. It so happens that neither could my father and neither can my oldest son, it's not just me. I don't even discuss these issues with doctors any more, my son won't even go to a doctor about it. My insurance will cover a dietitian if I have diabetes but not for a food allergy/ sensitivity. If doctors won't acknowledge food sensitivities and allergy why would the media?

Great article! That is shameful how some shows are portraying people with food allergies. I wish I did not have them, but I do, and to feel my best I have to avoid certain foods. Food allergies and/or sensitivities are serious business! So many people are unaware that their health issues are tied to the food they eat.

I had a similar experience with a waitress a few months ago. I made it clear when ordering that I needed my food gluten free. When my food was delivered the steak had a breaded and fried onion ring on top of it! When I told her that I couldn't eat the steak because of possible contamination she told me that I should have made it clear that it was a health issue so she could have been more vigilant. I have to take a doctor's order to a restaurant in order to not be served something hazardous to my health?

Thank you for this great article. It seems a lot of comedians find it necessary to poke fun at gluten free sufferers. They should walk in the shoes of someone that has this disease. Or care for a child that cries because they can't have a cupcake at a party. Or go to dinner with their wife and opt out of the movie after because they will not know whether the meal was truly safe. It is not an easy life to live. It is not a peanut allergy where your life could hang in the balance, but their are many consequences to bear. I'm sure most people who suffer from autoimmune diseases, or allergies hear most of the comments you state above. If I were to hear them 15 years ago when I was first diagnosed I would have been devastated. Over the years I have come accustomed to people's behavior and attitudes. I didn't chose this disease, it chose me.

Here's the problem--for all of us with actual medical issues, there are likely 2 or 3 times as many following gluten-free as a fad diet. I see so many people supporting going gluten-free for non-medical, woo-based reasons, that I'm not surprised we aren't always taken seriously. Those articles telling people to not eat gluten-free if it's not a medical necessity? I'm all for them if they bring us to the a point where our needs are taken seriously. It isn't a nutritionally balanced diet--especially when chosen by someone with no thought given beyond the woo of "we aren't evolved to digest gluten." They're the ones most likely to be harmed by it, because they're likely cutting out a lot of other perfectly healthful foods. I have no problem with a server asking if my diet is a choice or a medical necessity if it gets me food that I know I can eat.

Here's the problem--for all of us with actual medical issues, there are likely 2 or 3 times as many following gluten-free as a fad diet. I see so many people supporting going gluten-free for non-medical, woo-based reasons, that I'm not surprised we aren't always taken seriously. Those articles telling people to not eat gluten-free if it's not a medical necessity? I'm all for them if they bring us to the a point where our needs are taken seriously. It isn't a nutritionally balanced diet--especially when chosen by someone with no thought given beyond the woo of "we aren't evolved to digest gluten." They're the ones most likely to be harmed by it, because they're likely cutting out a lot of other perfectly healthful foods. I have no problem with a server asking if my diet is a choice or a medical necessity if it gets me food that I know I can eat.

What about people who eat a low-sugar diet but don't have diabetes? There is some evidence that gluten is harmful to everyone, not just celiacs. What evidence is there that it isn't taken seriously due to more people eating gluten-free? For me, more people seem to know about it than every before.

I have experienced scrutiny as well at restaurants. I expect it to some extent - not everyone is educated in this area. I try to be as nice as I can and explain that it is Celiac and gluten will hurt me. If I do not feel comfortable then I will never eat there again. Money drives most things in this society so I would hope that restaurants that bother to have a gluten free menu see the value in the gluten free customer. When I go out it is with family and friends. It's not just one customer that you lose, it is many - over and over. And to the person who said that their DOCTOR rolls their eyes - please, please find yourself a new COMPETENT doctor. They are supposed to be educated, trained professionals. If this person doesn't recognized this as the legitimate disease it is, I don't see how you can trust or respect them.

What about people who eat a low-sugar diet but don't have diabetes? There is some evidence that gluten is harmful to everyone, not just celiacs. What evidence is there that it isn't taken seriously due to more people eating gluten-free? For me, more people seem to know about it than every before.

I agree. I've been diagnosed Celiac since 2003 and back then people had NO idea what you were talking about. I had waitresses, chefs and restaurant managers look me straight in the eye and say, "I've never heard of such a thing," as if medical degrees come with a food service job. Nowadays, even if there´s some eye rolling, people KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN and don't give you that blank stare. I much prefer that. Obviously, knowledge and NO eye rolling would be the best case scenario, but we can work towards that. In the meantime, I just make it clear that it's a medical issue right up front, and that seems to help.

Thank you for raising this issue. I thought perhaps I was being overly sensitive. A related issue is the proliferation of media articles claiming that most people who are on a gluten free diet do not need to be and do not even know what gluten is (based on unscientific survey someone claims to have done somewhere!), and giving dire warnings about the hazards of a gluten free diet. And that only people with doctor diagnosed celiac disease should ever avoid gluten. And that the problem is very rare. The media has the public convinced that we are just following a fad diet they know nothing about. I am getting sick of having acquaintances and relatives warn me about these things, as if they are concerned I am killing myself by not eating enough enriched flour. I used to politely give people a little education about the broader spectrum of gluten related disorders, including DH, and the difficulty of diagnosis. But lately have started to get a bit testy with them. As for waiters, I have even had them ask me if I was diagnosed by a physician and what happens if I eat gluten. I have resorted to just telling every waiter: "This is a medical issue not a lifestyle choice."

"This is a medical issue not a lifestyle choice."EXACTLY! If I am asking a food server about gluten-free, I tell them that up front. And that those of us who are allergic, are glad there may be a number of neurotic people who have made gluten-free into a mass market. But for us, it IS a medical issue. If they ask what happens if I eat gluten, I just put on a poker face and say "I'll probably catch fire and burst into flames." They´re never willing to take a chance on that.

I saw a cartoon, Jumpstart, written by Robb Armstrong poking fun at gluten free so I wrote an e-mail. When I replied that I was glad he realized he should not have done that he wrote back an angry reply. If you listen carefully, many times gluten free thrown out in conversation on comedy sitcom´s. Being gluten free is not an easy lifestyle and because you don´t fall over with an immediate bad response, people think well a little won´t hurt. I´ve had to explain many times that it is an autoimmune response and yes a little will hurt.