Celiac disease and overweight in children: an update

Nutrients. 2014 Jan 2;6(1):207-20. doi: 10.3390/nu6010207.

Abstract

The clinical presentation of celiac disease in children is very variable and differs with age. The prevalence of atypical presentations of celiac disease has increased over the past 2 decades. Several studies in adults and children with celiac disease indicate that obesity/overweight at disease onset is not unusual. In addition, there is a trend towards the development of overweight/obesity in celiac patients who strictly comply with a gluten-free diet. However, the pathogenesis and clinical implications of the coexistence of classic malabsorption (e.g., celiac disease) and overweight/obesity remain unclear. This review investigated the causes and main clinical factors associated with overweight/obesity at the diagnosis of celiac disease and clarified whether gluten withdrawal affects the current trends of the nutritional status of celiac disease patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Celiac Disease / complications
  • Celiac Disease / diagnosis*
  • Celiac Disease / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Diet, Gluten-Free
  • Glutens / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Nutritional Status
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight / complications
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

  • Glutens