Gluten-Free Diet in Children Can Cause Obesity
In recent years, the gluten free diet is becoming increasingly popular. A survey in 2015 found that 25 percent of Americans and some developed countries said they eat gluten-free foods. The amount is up from number 8 percent in 2013, according to market research firm Mintel Group.
gluten-free diet is generally given to those with celiac disease or wheat allergies. However, celiac disease (CD), decreased immune conditions that make people sick if they eat gluten, it is actually extremely rare. Less than 1 percent of people in the United States have celiac disease.
Some people who started a gluten-free diet is considered to have misconceptions about the gluten, or do not realize that these diets may have an increased risk, according to a new commentary in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Too concerned about the health of their children, parents sometimes put their children on a gluten-free diet in the belief that it can reduce symptoms and prevent CD, or as a healthy alternative, without previous testing or consultation with a nutritionist, said Dr. Norelle R. Reilly, child's digestive specialist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
Therefore, the perception that the gluten-free diet is healthy is a myth. There is no scientific evidence that a gluten-free diet brings health benefits to people who do not have celiac disease, wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity nonceliac.
Moreover, the gluten free diet can come with risks, especially if people follow a diet without talking to your doctor or dietitian first, Reilly said.
Gluten-free in packaged foods are often higher in fat and sugar than products that contain gluten, and studies have found that some people become obese or overweight after starting a gluten-free diet.
In addition, many gluten-free foods are not fortified with vitamins and minerals, so as to follow a gluten-free diet can lead to malnutrition, said Reilly.
Some people may think that a gluten-free diet can prevent celiac disease in children, but studies have not found an association between eating gluten and celiac disease risk.
In addition, gluten-free products also tend to be more expensive than products that contain gluten, and those who must follow a gluten-free diet often report feeling socially isolated because of their diet.
Parents should be counseled on the consequences of the financial, social and nutrition that may occur when starting a gluten-free diet in children, "said Reilly.