Articles Are people with Celiac Disease always thin? The answer to that question is no.  Most people and some doctors wouldn’t even think of testing you for CD if you were overweight.  According to an article on Celiac.com dated 11/29/06 – they state: Contrary to popular beliefs (not to mention outdated medical training), this study demonstrates that 39% of those who are diagnosed with celiac disease are actually overweight rather than underweight. A full 30% of celiac disease patients were in the obese range at the time of their diagnosis. Unfortunately many medical doctors still won’t even consider testing overweight patients for celiac disease because they erroneously believe that the disease can only occur in individuals who are underweight. This line of reasoning is outdated and incorrect, and is also very dangerous to those who happen to have celiac disease are overweight—which is now known to be quite common. Below is the Abstract for the latest study, which was conducted by William Dickey, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.G.: Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101(10):2356-2359. Overweight in Celiac Disease: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet Posted 11/14/2006 William Dickey, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.G.; Natalie Kearney, B.Sc. Abstract: Background: It is well established that a minority of celiac patients present with classic symptoms due to malabsorption. However, few studies have focused on the distribution of body mass index (BMI) in celiac populations and its relationship to clinical characteristics, or on its response to treatment. Methods: We reviewed BMI measurements and other clinical and pathological characteristics from a database of 371 celiac patients diagnosed over a 10-yr period and seen by a single gastroenterologist. To assess response to gluten exclusion, we compared BMI at diagnosis and after 2 yr treatment in patients with serological support for dietary compliance. Results: Mean BMI was 24.6 kg/m2 (range 16.3–43.5). Seventeen patients (5%) were underweight (BMI <18.5), 211 (57%) were normal, and 143 (39%) were overweight (BMI =25), including 48 (13% of all patients) in the obese range (BMI =30.0). There was a significant association between low BMI and female gender, history of diarrhea, reduced hemoglobin concentration, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis, and higher grades (subtotal/total) of villous atrophy. Of patients compliant with a gluten-free diet, 81% had gained weight after 2 yr, including 82% of initially overweight patients. Conclusions: Few celiac patients are underweight at diagnosis and a large minority is overweight; these are less likely to present with classical features of diarrhea and reduced hemoglobin. Failed or delayed diagnosis of celiac disease may reflect lack of awareness of this large subgroup. The increase in weight of already overweight patients after dietary gluten exclusion is a potential cause of morbidity, and the gluten-free diet as conventionally prescribed needs to be modified accordingly. So here is just a snap shot of some proof that people with CD are supposed to be thin.  I never believed this.  Some people may have fluctuated with their weight most of their lives, but there are those who were always thin and before being diagnosed gain weight and even after diagnosis continued to gain weight.  It is not until your body starts to heal and you become accustomed to all the gluten free food products do you finally get a handle on your weight.  Even though Gluten free food, especially the breads, pasta’s cookies, cakes etc. are a God-send – they are even more fattening that non gluten free food.  So it all comes down to a balancing act which is a little more difficult once your body has gotten used to the weight to now start getting it off. When you tell people you have CD, their first response is oh you should be really thin then.  This misconception that all people with CD are thin is just not true and I am glad some of the medical community has already been studying this and helping those with the weight issue ease our minds that you are not abnormal – but it is proven how common it really is. Source:  Celiac.com Loretta Mirabella, the gluten-free/chemical-free personal care expert, is President of Gluten Free Gatway.com; a company dedicated to empowering and educating today's discerning woman to take the best care of themselves and their families by providing gluten free, organic and chemical free personal care products. What Loretta is best known for is her expertise in helping you live a gluten-free/chemical-free lifestyle with ease and fun.  Loretta’s secret key to success comes out of her belief that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. Loretta resides in Long Island, New York.  Loretta can be found spending time volunteering, cooking, reading, researching, traveling and spending time with her friends and family. To keep up with what Loretta is doing or to connect with her at loretta@glutenfreegateway.com.   Gluten Free Gateway