- According to the WHO, there are just over 1.9 billion adults aged 18 or over who are overweight.
- Among the most serious complications of patients with celiac disease are delayed growth and blood disorders such as anemia, fatigue, tiredness and constant diarrhea.
- A bariatric endoscopist clarified that gluten is not the cause of being overweight, but what can cause an increase in body mass is the high glycemic index of some foods.
It is increasingly common to hear about celiac disease. In fact, only in the United States there are three million people with this problem. For the same reason, it has been related Gluten intolerance with overweight. To date, many consider that it is real, but is it true?
In this regard, Dr. Acosta Then, who is a bariatric endoscopist and director of the Obesity and Specialties Clinic Health ClinicHe offers his point of view. First he mentions that gluten is present in wheat, rye, barley, bran and wheat flour.
From the above it must be established that there is a Difference between intolerance and allergy. Some theories state that a gluten-free diet helps to lose weight and decrease inflammation, and that eating it causes fluid retention. This is a big myth.
What does gluten work for?
Everything is seen at the gastrointestinal level. When gluten is suppressed, abdominal swelling and symptoms of malabsorption decrease. It also improves digestion and it is very likely that sporadic episodes of diarrhea will decrease.
There are symptoms that trigger the alert about possible gluten intolerance. In this case, it is important to see a doctor to evaluate a nutritional plan and eliminate this type of food. An upper endoscopy study may be done to take a biopsy of the second portion of the intestine.
There are the villi responsible for the absorption of food. People with intolerance have atrophy or absence of villi, which prevents the absorption of gluten. This causes the symptoms described.
Does gluten intolerance cause overweight?
An example is that of the past Miss Universe. She was noted to gain weight, and one of the causes put forward for her was an alleged allergy or intolerance to gluten. What happens in these types of patients? Rather than weight gain, what is being described is loss, due to the aggravating symptoms of these foods.
When we follow a gluten-free diet, we begin to replace it with foods low in fiber and high in carbohydrates and lipids. So, this translates into a hypercaloric diet, which does cause weight gain.
Among the most serious complications of patients with celiac disease are delayed growth, blood disorders, such as anemia, fatigue and tiredness, and constant diarrhea.
Intolerance has no cure. The only treatment is a gluten-free diet. It is also a myth that consuming gluten causes cancer. There are marketing strategies that promote “gluten free” foods.
Some people believe that these are weight loss products, but this is not the case. Gluten, by itself, is not a cause of weight gain. What can cause overweight is the high glycemic index of foods that contain gluten.
Also read:
Nutritionist reveals the only people who should never eat gluten
Food allergies and intolerances: Medical tests for detection
Is it possible to prevent the development of colon cancer?
