Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Overweight... Could It Still Be Celiac?

sarahelizabeth

Recommended Posts

sarahelizabeth Contributor
sarahelizabeth
Posted

After doing lots of research about celiac when our pediatric GI mentioned testing my 1 year old for it I started to realize that I too have a lot of the symptoms... except I am definitely not underweight like they often describe. Can you be overweight and still have celiac???

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Jennas-auntie Apprentice
Jennas-auntie
Posted

Yes, definitely, you can still have it. Dr. Murray of the Mayo clinic calls these people "nutritionally compensated" and said that celiac should not be excluded as a possibility due to being overweight, normal weight, or being tall.

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Absolutely.

richard

Guest Robbin
Guest Robbin
Posted

:) Yes! You most certainly can be. Many of us are or have been on this forum. If you are not getting the right nutrients and just gaining fat it can be just as health-wrecking. Most drs. are clueless about this. I am overweight, but have many health issues because of nutritional deficiencies. Check out the thread "Diet and Weight issues" and see the struggles overweight and underweight people have. It can go either way-my kids have the opposite problem-trying to gain-so our family has both issues. Hope we can all help you and your family get answers. Take care,

Robbin

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted

I've lost 54 pounds in a year!! Now, to be fair, some of that is a direct result that I'm eating much healthier then I ever have before. I lived for food out of boxes, take out, etc. Now I don't have that luxury, but it's a good trade off :lol:

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

It is certainly possible to be overweight and Celiac. I went undiagnosed for many years--and was 20-25 lbs. overweight most of that time. I was also anemic.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

My completely unsubstantiated assumption is that those of us who are celiac and overweight get the calories but not the nutrients when we eat. That's why we're still anemic, flattened villi, etc.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
My completely unsubstantiated assumption is that those of us who are celiac and overweight get the calories but not the nutrients when we eat. That's why we're still anemic, flattened villi, etc.

Yes--I agree with this. I was certainly getting the calories <_< , but probably very little vitamins and minerals, etc. Looking back, I was quite unhealthy.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
Yes--I agree with this. I was certainly getting the calories <_< , but probably very little vitamins and minerals, etc. Looking back, I was quite unhealthy.

I'm also thinking that's why I've gained 10 lbs two weeks into my gluten challenge, and why I'm hungry ALL THE DAMN TIME!

Guest Robbin
Guest Robbin
Posted
My completely unsubstantiated assumption is that those of us who are celiac and overweight get the calories but not the nutrients when we eat. That's why we're still anemic, flattened villi, etc.

Thanks, ChelsE, You said perfectly what I meant! I went clothes shopping today in a brain fog and can only think, god I am so fat. Seems like a triple curse to have any weight issues with the whole eating/lifestyle changes and being sick.

sarahelizabeth Contributor
sarahelizabeth
Posted
  • Author

Thank you so much!! Wow this is a WONDERFUL message board!! You all have really helped me here!! I think I am going to request a blood test for myself. Our GI specialist just told me last week he didn't want to test my 1 year old just yet... he wants to give him a year because even though he is small he is gaining weight. I figure if I get a diagnosis then they would definitely test my son... right??? Might be the easiest route to take right now.

Here's our history (if it helps)....

I have a 3.5 year old son who is on the autistic spectrum... diagnosed PDD-NOS. and a 1 year old who has had chronic constipation problems since he was just a few months old. Both children have eczema and have both always been on the smaller side. My 3 year old was 36 inches tall and 30lbs at his 3 year well check in January and my 1 year old was 19lbs and 28.75 inches at his 1 year visit 2 weeks ago. My one year old has reflux and is still constantly regurging (although swallows it down most of the time now), is a VERY irritable baby, is still having constipation issues even on a Tbsp of Miralax daily, his poops are VERY bulky... most everything he eats comes directly out undigested and he is VERY gassy. He was anemic at his 9 month visit.

Once I started reading about celiac I started to notice that I too have a lot of the symptoms... but of course many of them are vague and could be attributed to other things. I get random bouts of diarrhea without a distingishable cause. My stools have always floated (never knew it wasn't supposed to), I am constantly tired despite adequate rest, get frequent headaches/migrains, and I am also very gassy (blushing). I also have been getting these intensely itchy blisters on my hands for the last several months. But like I said I am overweight... about 50lbs overweight to be honest!! And I am not anemic... at least the last time I was tested for my pregnancy. My thyroid levels have also been tested and were normal everytime.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I think you are wise to be tested. You seem to have a lot of symptoms that could possibly point to gluten intolerance. Be sure to remain on gluten right up until the test--if you try to go gluten-free before the test, you will skew the result. Your children --eczema, anemia, constipation--those are suspicious symptoms, too. I'm sure that some of the parents of young children will weigh in soon. There are some real "experts" on the subject of kids here! :D Good luck to you!

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I agree with Patti............go ahead and get tested! I am another overweight celiac here, and couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried! Well, not quite true, went on an Atkins type diet a few years ago and lost, but my family pressured me into eating 'normal' again, claiming all that meat I was eating was going to give me a heart attack. Boy, were they wrong!

If you test positive, you would be wise to put yourself and both boys on a gluten-free/casein free diet. Your autistic son might really benefit, too, as it could really improve the autism. In fact, I would do it even if you test negative, as there are soooooooo many false negatives. The response to the diet is the ultimate test, and always reliable.

indyceliac Newbie
indyceliac
Posted

it is absolutely possible! I am another example.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I was over 100 pounds over weight... I've since lost 105 pounds since going gluten free. If you want to go the testing route, don't stop eating gluten until your testing is done, BUT the absolute easiest and quickest test is to just try the diet and see if it helps. It can't hurt, you don't require a dr.s permission for the diet, you just won't get a "celiac" dx on your permanent record tho, but that could be a good thing... I was actually denied insurance coverage because of my Celiac dx.

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
My completely unsubstantiated assumption is that those of us who are celiac and overweight get the calories but not the nutrients when we eat. That's why we're still anemic, flattened villi, etc.

Exactly, the body only has two responses to lacking nutrients one is the longer term feeling of missing something and the other is a more regualr pang response.

Both of these are actually part of many physically addictive drugs effects like caffine and tobacco which is why to an extent they work as appetite supressants. They don't really we just get tricked into thinking that the missing thing is the drug which invokes the reposnse and when it needs 'feeding' satiates it. Hence we develop a long term pavlovian reflex to drug and hunger feeling.

Lacking nutrients is the same, your body can just say "eat - I need nutrients" and if you don't adsorb those nutrients it will try again in 20 minutes.

Beccc Rookie
Beccc
Posted
After doing lots of research about celiac when our pediatric GI mentioned testing my 1 year old for it I started to realize that I too have a lot of the symptoms... except I am definitely not underweight like they often describe. Can you be overweight and still have celiac???

A friend of mine was diagnosed celiac by biopsy a couple of years ago and has always been overweight. She actually gained more weight after going gluten free because she was actually starting to absorb nutrients!

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
After doing lots of research about celiac when our pediatric GI mentioned testing my 1 year old for it I started to realize that I too have a lot of the symptoms... except I am definitely not underweight like they often describe. Can you be overweight and still have celiac???

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES (I am very overweight).

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      0

      When Gluten-Free Food Is Unavailable: A Child's Struggle Highlights the Hidden Risks for People with Celiac Disease

    2. Churley
      - Churley replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      10

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    3. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions...
    4. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know. I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past...
    5. nanny marley
      - nanny marley replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      20

      Insomnia help

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,348
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    jimiiiii
    Newest Member
    jimiiiii
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Churley
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Churley · Posted

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions to it, so different for everyone.  
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know.  I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past, but going to try it at 5k units a day. having a pth test on friday, which is suspect will be high. my homocysteine has come down to around 9 with 3 weeks of these supplements and expect it to go down further. i also started on estrogen/progesterone. I have osteoporosis too, so that is why the hormones.  anyway, i think all celiacs should have homocysteine checked and treated if needed (easy enough with b vit, tmg). homocysteine very bad thing to be high for a whole host of reasons. all the bad ones, heart attack , stroke, alzi, cancer..... one of the most annoying things about celiacs (and there are so many!) is the weight gain. i guess i stayed thin all those years being undiagnosed because i was under absorbing everything including calories. going gluten-free and the weight gain has been terrible, 30#, but i'm sure a lot more went into that (hip replacement - and years of hip pain leading to inactivity when i was previously very active, probably all related to celiacs, menopause) yada yada. i seemed to lose appetite control, like there was low glp, or leptin or whatever all those hormones are that tell you that you are full and to stop eating. my appetite is immense and i'm never full. i guess decades or more ( i think i have had celiacs since at least my teens - was hospitalized for abdominal pain and diarrhea for which spastic colon was eventually diagnosed and had many episodes of diarrhea/abdominal pain through my 20's. but that symptom seemed to go away and i related it to dairy much more so than gluten. Also my growth was stunted, i'm the only shorty in my family. anyway, decades of malabsorption and maldigestion led to constant hunger, at least thats my theory. then when i started absorbing normally, wham!! FAT!!!    
    • nanny marley
      Insomnia help

      By nanny marley · Posted

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I don't always sleep well at the best of times , racing mind catches up I have decorated my whole house in one night in my mind before 🤣 diet changes mindset really help , although I have to say it never just disappears, I find once I came to terms with who I am I managed a lot better  , a misconception is for many to change , that means to heal but that's not always the case , understanding and finding your coping mechanisms are vital tools , it's more productive to find that because there is no failure then no pressure to become something else , it's ok to be sad it's ok to not sleep , it's ok to worry , just try to see it has a journey not a task 🤗
    • nanny marley
      nothing has changed

      By nanny marley · Posted

      I agree there I've tryed this myself to prove I can't eat gluten or lactose and it sets me back for about a month till I have to go back to being very strict to settle again 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.