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Celiac And Eating Disorders?

majicbunnies

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majicbunnies Contributor
majicbunnies
Posted

Just wondering if anyone here struggles with celiac disease/intolerance and an eating disorder.

For me, EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). I have binging/purging and restricting tendencies. Sometimes it feels like having the gluten intolerance (haven't been diagnosed yet) makes it easier to eat less. Finding out I was gluten intolerant kind of "started" the eating disorder though. I realized how much I ate, and how fat I was. Started at 130 (highest weight I know of) and now I'm down to 103. My lowest was 101.5.

It all really sucks, too. :(

Just want to know if anyone else is going through anything similar. I'm here for support. <3

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Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I don't know how tall you are. But 130 pounds isn't fat, unless you're very short! You need to eat more, you're underweight right now. My youngest daughter is 5'9", and weighs nearly 140 pounds, and she is very slim, nobody would ever guess her weight.

A lot of people who have celiac disease are always hungry and have to eat a lot, because their intestines aren't absorbing nutrients, and they're malnourished as a result. Now, I am really too fat. Which is also a symptom of celiac disease, and malnourishment. It can go either way. Eating less will be completely counterproductive. Especially if you think you suffer from adrenal fatigue. In order to overcome that, you need to eat more, not less, and pretty much all through the day. That will actually eventually lead to weight loss if you're overweight, and weight gain if you're underweight.

Lauren M Explorer
Lauren M
Posted

Hi :)

If you do a search on this site, you will see that I have suffered from both Celiac and disordered eating. I too fall under the category of EDNOS - I only restrict (have never binged or purged) - but for me, it is not a weight related thing. In fact, I HATE the way I look when I lose too much weight. Yet, for me, food = fear. My history (pancreatitis, Celiac...) has made me come to literally view any food as potential poison. In addition, eating to fullness makes me feel that bloated feeling that I related to getting "glutened". Like you, I know that my diagnosis with Celiac was the catalyst for my eating disorder - definitely easier to eat less. NEVER before did I have preoccupations or issues with food.

So, in short, yes I relate, and I have many friends who have eating disorders of varying classifications so I understand your struggles. I'm here for support, too and feel free to chat with me anytime! I think that the link between Celiac and eating disorders would be a VERY interesting study, if only I had the time!

- Lauren

chrissy Collaborator
chrissy
Posted

one of my 15 year old twins is struggling with an eating disorder and also has celiac disease. she spent a couple of months in the hospital----and they did not keep her gluten free.

Guest Norah022
Guest Norah022
Posted

Suffered from non-purging bulimia for five years until I sought counseling my freshman year of college.

My senior year of high school I went on the celiac diet for 4 months because my dad had been diagnosed and they wanted to see if it would work for me...It didn't (we found out later i was having severe gallbladder problems that covered up my reaction) but a few months after being taken off of the diet I asked my parents to let me go back on it.....So i could lose all the weight again. <_<

My freshman year of college I had to seek counseling because my eating disorder lead my cholesterol to be severely high putting me in danger of heart problems.

I am now a senior in college and was officially diagnosed with Celiac's disease through a blood test in May. I have lost over 30 pounds by going gluten free and soda free. I am starting to notice some of my eating disorder symptoms coming back but luckily for me my boyfriend is watching me closely and making sure i dont fall back into anything.

majicbunnies Contributor
majicbunnies
Posted
  • Author
I don't know how tall you are. But 130 pounds isn't fat, unless you're very short! You need to eat more, you're underweight right now. My youngest daughter is 5'9", and weighs nearly 140 pounds, and she is very slim, nobody would ever guess her weight.

A lot of people who have celiac disease are always hungry and have to eat a lot, because their intestines aren't absorbing nutrients, and they're malnourished as a result. Now, I am really too fat. Which is also a symptom of celiac disease, and malnourishment. It can go either way. Eating less will be completely counterproductive. Especially if you think you suffer from adrenal fatigue. In order to overcome that, you need to eat more, not less, and pretty much all through the day. That will actually eventually lead to weight loss if you're overweight, and weight gain if you're underweight.

I'm 5'1", so I'm pretty short.

I noticed my body doesn't act like other peoples. I guess it could be from the celiac.

Hi :)

If you do a search on this site, you will see that I have suffered from both Celiac and disordered eating. I too fall under the category of EDNOS - I only restrict (have never binged or purged) - but for me, it is not a weight related thing. In fact, I HATE the way I look when I lose too much weight. Yet, for me, food = fear. My history (pancreatitis, Celiac...) has made me come to literally view any food as potential poison. In addition, eating to fullness makes me feel that bloated feeling that I related to getting "glutened". Like you, I know that my diagnosis with Celiac was the catalyst for my eating disorder - definitely easier to eat less. NEVER before did I have preoccupations or issues with food.

So, in short, yes I relate, and I have many friends who have eating disorders of varying classifications so I understand your struggles. I'm here for support, too and feel free to chat with me anytime! I think that the link between Celiac and eating disorders would be a VERY interesting study, if only I had the time!

- Lauren

I know what you mean about the fear of food. I panic and sometimes make myself sick thinking something I ate will make me sick.

Suffered from non-purging bulimia for five years until I sought counseling my freshman year of college.

My senior year of high school I went on the celiac diet for 4 months because my dad had been diagnosed and they wanted to see if it would work for me...It didn't (we found out later i was having severe gallbladder problems that covered up my reaction) but a few months after being taken off of the diet I asked my parents to let me go back on it.....So i could lose all the weight again. <_<

My freshman year of college I had to seek counseling because my eating disorder lead my cholesterol to be severely high putting me in danger of heart problems.

I am now a senior in college and was officially diagnosed with Celiac's disease through a blood test in May. I have lost over 30 pounds by going gluten free and soda free. I am starting to notice some of my eating disorder symptoms coming back but luckily for me my boyfriend is watching me closely and making sure i dont fall back into anything.

That's good he's there for you. Good luck =)

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

I am anorexic, though I seem to be doing very well with things since the Celiac diagnosis. I was down to 78 pounds (I'm 5'3") and miserable. I think my main problem was that my stomach always protruded and I looked pregnant. Though I still have the swollen belly now, I've found it easier to cope with now that I have a name to explain it. I always thought I was just fat and under-exercised. Now I know that it was likely because of Celiac.

If you ever want to talk, I'm online most hours of the day. How long have you been gluten free?

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lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

try the support at somethingfishy.org.

i know you don't want a lecture, but please be careful. i am 5'7'' and because of the celiac, and got so ill, i was down to 78lbs last December and almost died (although i was oblivious to it at the time). because of that, my ovaries have shut down and i am potentially going through menopause. i am 23. there are so many issues at hand - if you need to, you can hit me with a pm.

majicbunnies Contributor
majicbunnies
Posted
  • Author
I am anorexic, though I seem to be doing very well with things since the Celiac diagnosis. I was down to 78 pounds (I'm 5'3") and miserable. I think my main problem was that my stomach always protruded and I looked pregnant. Though I still have the swollen belly now, I've found it easier to cope with now that I have a name to explain it. I always thought I was just fat and under-exercised. Now I know that it was likely because of Celiac.

If you ever want to talk, I'm online most hours of the day. How long have you been gluten free?

Good to hear you're doing better. When I was eating gluten, I was constantly bloated. UGH. Not so much now..but still. I've been gluten-free for almost two years. When I was nine I had a flu that spread to my brainstem and caused Encephylitis (sp?). I couldn't eat for two weeks and forgot how to walk. After that, I went back to normal. I guess I developed the celiac because of that though. I didn't find out until about two years ago..mid-freshman year.

I'm online all the time, too. Independant study!

Take care <3

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