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

Can An Overweight Person Have Celiac Disease?

lharper

Recommended Posts

lharper Newbie
lharper
Posted

So, my 6 yo daughter was diagnosed with Celiac in November 2008. Because of this I certainly I have a lot more knowledge about the disease than I ever did previously. I have been having some very severe gastrointestinal symptoms, along with other unexplained symptoms including muscle and joint aches, headaches, total lack of energy etc for probably 3 years now. However, I am overweight and most of what I have read states weight loss, not weight gain, is a possible sign of Celiac. I am considering having a Celiac screen done, but was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has been diagnosed while overweight. Thanks!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Simple answer -- yes. Happens frequently.

richard

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

What Richard said . . . and . . .

I am considering having a Celiac screen done . . .

If someone in a family has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, there is a much higher chance that additional family members are at risk for having it or developing it later in life (due to the genetic/hereditary component of the disease).

My daughter's GI recommended that our whole family be screened (siblings & parents). Throw in your symptoms and there is all kinds of justification for getting some blood work done.

TiffLuvsBread Rookie
TiffLuvsBread
Posted

The weight loss thing may be an indicator, because your body cannot absorb nutrients and basically starves itself. However, because of this same reason, you can end up with a severely distended stomach and not lose weight - just look puffy everywhere. For years we always thought my dad was overweight with a big belly. As soon as he went gluten-free, he lost the ENTIRE belly and gained exponentially more energy so he was better able and healthier to work out more at the gym - so all the weight came completely off. Now he is a 67 year old man who looks like a 50 year old athlete, but has the energy of a 30 year old athlete. He is very active and in amazing shape. Before he was overweight, had a heart and cholesterol condition, had a heart attack, had no energy and could barely swim and nearly drowned once (due to energy - not skill). Every single one of those reversed when he changed his diet. It is like a different man. He got so many years back.

For me, I am 5'8" and 120lbs, fit/thin build and I was skinny all through childhood. After going gluten-free I haven't had any weight change issues other than gaining a few pounds of lean muscle because my body is better able to absorb nutrients and I have more energy.

I would never look at an overweight person and tell them there is no way they have Celiac or gluten intolerance because of their weight. I think the way you feel and the symptoms you have is way more of an indicator - and remember all symptoms are symptoms you MAY experience. All of us on here have different symptoms. Even me and my dad - we are related by blood and have the same condition and do not experience it in exactly the same way.

So don't rule it out. Consider you may have it, but you may have some other condition going on as well which you should also not rule out.

Good luck :)

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

I believe the percentage of overweight persons with celiac disease is 34% of total persons with celiac disease. I am one. I am self diagnosed and when I finally was able to see my dr, he gave me that look. You know the one, you are not skinny, I doubt you have celiac disease.

It's likely you could have it. Your child inherited it from someone.

chasbari Apprentice
chasbari
Posted
So, my 6 yo daughter was diagnosed with Celiac in November 2008. Because of this I certainly I have a lot more knowledge about the disease than I ever did previously. I have been having some very severe gastrointestinal symptoms, along with other unexplained symptoms including muscle and joint aches, headaches, total lack of energy etc for probably 3 years now. However, I am overweight and most of what I have read states weight loss, not weight gain, is a possible sign of Celiac. I am considering having a Celiac screen done, but was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has been diagnosed while overweight. Thanks!

Excellent answers from everyone else. My experience was that I was skinny as a kid, worked hard to gain weight through my teens, started putting on excess weight later on, lots of joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis and eventual digestive issues and finally a diagnosis this past February. Once gluten free and paleo I lost weight drastically and started gaining muscle again as my body started being able to absorb nutrients. I takes time though and everyone reacts differently. I think that makes it frustrating for medical people as it is not only hard to diagnose, but also hard to predict how the body will respond to proper treatment. The more you understand going absolutely gluten-free I think the better you will respond. I tried to go normal gluten-free with all the extra treats and alternate grains and only got less sick. It was only after going radically paleo that real health returned for me.

LDJofDenver Apprentice
LDJofDenver
Posted

Yes, indeed. More than I realized. I was skinny as a kid, but at diagnosis (in my 50s) a good 25 lbs overweight.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lharper Newbie
lharper
Posted
  • Author
I am self diagnosed and when I finally was able to see my dr, he gave me that look. You know the one, you are not skinny, I doubt you have celiac disease.

I think that's what I am a little afraid of.. haha. I don't want to feel stupid by asking for a test and have the doctor give me that look. -lol- I definitely think I need to get tested though. Even if it isn't Celiac, it would be good to rule it out.

Thanks everyone for the responses! Definitely gave me the push I need to get the test.

juliasmith Newbie
juliasmith
Posted

yes it can

nasalady Contributor
nasalady
Posted
So, my 6 yo daughter was diagnosed with Celiac in November 2008. Because of this I certainly I have a lot more knowledge about the disease than I ever did previously. I have been having some very severe gastrointestinal symptoms, along with other unexplained symptoms including muscle and joint aches, headaches, total lack of energy etc for probably 3 years now. However, I am overweight and most of what I have read states weight loss, not weight gain, is a possible sign of Celiac. I am considering having a Celiac screen done, but was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has been diagnosed while overweight. Thanks!

Yes, many of us are overweight rather than underweight.....please see the following threads on this forum for more info:

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=59617

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=183

JoAnn :)

nora-n Rookie
nora-n
Posted
Open Original Shared Link here it says 5% are underweight and 39% overweight. Print it out for your doctor. Mine refuses to hear or read anything, he says only severely underweight people can possibly have celiac.

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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

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

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

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

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

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

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

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

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,327
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    dnamutant
    Newest Member
    dnamutant
    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

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

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • 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.