Celiac and weight gain

[Joanne1972]

Hi anyone else finding it really difficult to loose weight,I’ve recently been diagnosed ,I’ve been trying to loose weight but it seems I’m gaining no matter what? I was told people loose weight with celiac disease? 

[cristiana]

Welcome Joanne

Weight loss often precedes diagnosis for celiacs, particularly if they suffer (as I did) from bad diarrhea.   Also, some find that when they adjust to a gluten free diet they don't know what is safe and unsafe and follow quite a restricted diet initially and that can lead to weight loss.

Are you eating a lot of gluten-free substitutes as sometimes, if you look at the packet, they might contain more calories than their glutenous versions? Another cause of weight gain following the adoption of a gluten free diet is that you could be putting on more weight now because previously you weren't absorbing food properly, now you are.

I've put on more weight since healing but I think this is also caused by the fact that I am perimenopausal, and a lot of my friends, coeliac or not, find that they are putting on weight at this stage of life!  I've had some success recently by following more of Mediterranean diet, and trying to snack on small pieces of fruit like a single apricot, or eating a small handful of nuts, rather than indulge in too much chocolate!  I also try not to eat too late so the body essential fasts for more than 14 hours a day, I think that helps.

Anyway, good to have you on the forum.

Cristiana

Edited August 14, 2022 by cristiana

[cristiana]

Oh... and PS, when you were diagnosed, did they test your thyroid?  Quite a few people on this forum have thyroid issues and this can sometimes make it more difficult to lose weight.

[Scott Adams]

I actually was too thin and gained weight after my diagnosis, so I think this can vary from person to person.

[Nancie]

It is normal to gain weight with celiac disease ?

[Scott Adams]

For some people it can be normal, but for others, and perhaps more so in those who are obese when diagnosed, they may lose weight after going gluten-free because they begin absorbing nutrients better and may quit overeating due to the feeling that they are starving. Again, I think this can vary a lot from person to person, and it wasn't until the last 15-20 years or so that the medical community began to recognize the fact that people with celiac disease could be obese upon diagnosis. Going back in time doctors were almost universally taught that you had to be underweight to have celiac disease, so those who were overweight were almost never screened for it.

[Maddie6332]

I was starting to be tested because I wasn't gaining weight at all.It took me a little while to get to 20 pounds, honestley.

[Nancie]

My Dr had the celiac test ordered but my question with this bloodwork do I need to fast before having blood work 

[sunflowers]

I had such a difficult time losing weight for about 7 years prior to my positive blood test a few weeks ago. Doctors always tested my thyroid and told me to reduce my stress. Thyroid was normal and I did everything I could but run away to a cave in the mountains to reduce stress.

I'm not sure if my difficulty losing weight these past few years is related to celiac, as i've only been gluten-free 2 days, but I can suspect that celiac is the culprit. I would workout 12-16 hours a week for months on end and I would never lose a pound. 

[Maddie6332]

It could be Celiac. Celiac can gss weight gain and weight loss, so it makes sense.

[Nancie]

I tested negative for celiac disease but from I read that had me tested was that I have all the symptoms . I was diagnosed with benign lymphatic colitis 2 years ago is it common with the lymphatic colitis to have the Symptoms of celiac ?

[Maddie6332]

I honestly don't know you may have to ask your doctor!

[cristiana]

On 8/17/2022 at 4:17 AM, Nancie said:

My Dr had the celiac test ordered but my question with this bloodwork do I need to fast before having blood work 

Nancie, have you been eating gluten?  For a coeliac blood test, you need to eat about 2 slices of normal (gluten) containing bread or the equivalent for 6-8 weeks before testing.  There is no need to fast before a coeliac blood test.

6 hours ago, Nancie said:

I tested negative for celiac disease but from I read that had me tested was that I have all the symptoms . I was diagnosed with benign lymphatic colitis 2 years ago is it common with the lymphatic colitis to have the Symptoms of celiac ?

Also, Nancie, what were your symptoms prior to being diagnosed with lymphatic colitis?

Edited August 19, 2022 by cristiana

[Salinas22]

On 8/14/2022 at 12:32 PM, Scott Adams said:

I actually was too thin and gained weight after my diagnosis, so I think this can vary from person to person.

How long did it take to gain weight after being diagnosed and gluten free? I’m suffering from leaky gut and malnutrition. Just diagnosed 8/22/22. I weighed 159lbs in May and now I weigh 130lbs. I eat very healthy and organic. Grass fed-grass finished beef, Pastured Chicken, Fresh Salmon. Organic fruits and vegetables. 
 

Thanks for any replies on weight gain timeline. 

[Salinas22]

Edit: 150lbs 

[Salinas22]

On 8/16/2022 at 7:43 PM, Maddie6332 said:

I was starting to be tested because I wasn't gaining weight at all.It took me a little while to get to 20 pounds, honestley.

How long did it take you to gain weight? 

[trents]

Salinas22, you only have a few minutes to edit any post before that function is no longer available. Just click on the three horizontal dots to access the edit function before that.

[Scott Adams]

19 hours ago, Salinas22 said:

How long did it take to gain weight after being diagnosed and gluten free? I’m suffering from leaky gut and malnutrition. Just diagnosed 8/22/22. I weighed 159lbs in May and now I weigh 130lbs. I eat very healthy and organic. Grass fed-grass finished beef, Pastured Chicken, Fresh Salmon. Organic fruits and vegetables. 
 

Thanks for any replies on weight gain timeline. 

For me the weight gain began around a year after going gluten-free.

[Salinas22]

3 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

For me the weight gain began around a year after going gluten-free.

Thank you so much for the response. I need to hear things like this from real people. I keep thinking my weight should come back sooner. I appreciate it. 

[trents]

I was never underweight before diagnosis but picked up about 10 lbs. within the first six months or a year after diagnosis. Wish I could give it back now.

[Maddie6332]

On 8/25/2022 at 7:01 PM, Salinas22 said:

How long did it take to gain weight after being diagnosed and gluten free? I’m suffering from leaky gut and malnutrition. Just diagnosed 8/22/22. I weighed 159lbs in May and now I weigh 130lbs. I eat very healthy and organic. Grass fed-grass finished beef, Pastured Chicken, Fresh Salmon. Organic fruits and vegetables. 
 

Thanks for any replies on weight gain timeline. 

For me, to gain 20 pounds, I would say it took a little while. Right now 8/27/22 I weigh 67 pounds. When I got to wights like 15-45 it was amazing. I still get so excited about how much I weigh, every day. So it does take a while, it took me maybe a year to get to 20 pounds, but it will be better and easier to gain weight (in my opinion) soon.