Is it possible to gain weight with celiac disease

People who are underweight are at higher risk for malnutrition and osteoporosis, both of which already are issues for those with celiac disease. So what can you do if you have celiac disease and are having trouble gaining weight?

Courtney Schuchmann, M. Celiac disease damages your small intestine, making you unable to absorb nutrients. This damage occurs when you ingest gluten, a protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye. Therefore, to halt the intestinal damage and begin to absorb nutrients again, people with celiac disease need to follow a strict gluten-free diet.

Still, although the stereotypical vision of a person with celiac disease pictures that person as rail-thin or emaciated due to celiac-related malnutrition, this picture may not be accurate. In a study, researchers sought out to estimate how many people are overweight, normal weight, or underweight at the time of diagnosis.

Their study involved adolescent and adult patients. Of that group, 76 That matches with what Schuchmann sees in practice. She says dietitians typically watch people with celiac disease who are underweight at diagnosis begin to put on weight as they start eating gluten-free and their intestinal villi begin to heal.

In most cases, those with celiac who are underweight don't need to do anything special to gain weight—it happens naturally. But a few people need extra help, she says. Typically, if a person with celiac disease doesn't gain weight after a few months of being on a strict gluten-free diet, Schuchmann says she considers "a more vigorous approach to weight gain. The first step, she says, is to make sure that person really is eating gluten-free, since eating gluten-containing foods or even just eating food that's been cross-contaminated with gluten can keep the intestinal villi from healing, contributing to ongoing symptoms and malnutrition.

Once she's addressed gluten ingestion, Schuchmann recommends the following weight-gain strategies for those who are underweight:. People following this program can expect to gain about 1 to 2 pounds per week, or a minimum of 4 pounds in a month, Schuchmann says.

People with celiac disease who continue to ingest gluten even in trace amounts may delay or prevent the healing of their small intestine, and may prevent themselves from gaining weight. There are several ways you can put yourself at risk for this problem, Schuchmann says:.

If you're having trouble gaining weight despite following the advice of your doctor and dietitian, there may be something else going on. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition , and those with one autoimmune condition are at higher risk for developing related autoimmune conditions. Specifically, celiac disease is linked with both thyroid disease and diabetes, both of which can contribute to problems gaining or losing weight.

Therefore, you may need some additional testing if you just can't seem to gain weight. Finally, a very small percentage of people with celiac disease who fail to gain weight despite a careful gluten-free diet actually may have refractory celiac disease, a condition in which your small intestine does not heal even though you're eating gluten-free. Refractory celiac disease also causes ongoing symptoms, such as diarrhea. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about this—for most people who experience ongoing symptoms and problems with their weight, the cause is hidden gluten in their diets or another medical condition, not refractory celiac disease, which is extremely rare.

Following a gluten-free diet can be challenging. We're here to help. Sign up and receive our free recipe guide for delicious gluten-free meals! This could reflect general population trends in weight or earlier detection of celiac disease.

Efforts to curb unwanted weight gain on the gluten-free diet are more important than ever, she says. Not everyone starting the gluten-free diet gains weight. There are plenty of reasons behind weight gain. Being out of the habit of exercise due to years of not feeling well can contribute to excess pounds.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO , common in new celiacs, can cause feelings of hunger due to ongoing malabsorption and ravenous cravings for high-calorie foods, especially sweets.

A sluggish thyroid can lead to weight gain and trouble shedding stubborn pounds. Feelings of deprivation can lead to overindulging and even binging. Clinicians frequently see disruptions in sleep in people with celiac disease and even in those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, says Burkhart. Underlying anxiety or depression, which are well documented in celiac disease before and after diagnosis, can cause sleep disturbances. So can stress. I recommend trying to gain weight with nutritious high calorie foods first before using supplemental nutrition drinks such as Ensure or Boost.

This information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for personalized medical advice or replace any medical advice provided directly to you by your health care provider. Remember me. Register Lost your password? Log In Lost your password? Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address.

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