Living a Gluten-Free Life: Managing Celiac Disease and Eating Disorders

Blog Post Contributed by Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Director @ Eating Disorder Hope, and Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC, President @ Eating Disorder Hope

For any individual who suffers with Celiac Disease, adhering to a gluten-free lifestyle is essential for treatment and management of symptoms. However, choosing a “gluten-free” way of life has become more of a diet fad in our culture today than a treatment for a severe autoimmune disease. “Gluten-Free” is seen across our grocery stores, marketplace, restaurants, and more. Smacked across the boxes and brands of our favorite food items, the “gluten-free” bandwagon has gone beyond the nutritional therapy for individuals with Celiac disease or other chronic health conditions.

Let us start with the basics. What exactly is Celiac Disease? According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food [1]. Men or women with Celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, which is a protein found in wheat. If gluten is consumed, a person with Celiac disease can risk damage to their small intestine. This can interfere with absorption of much needed nutrients, which over time can lead to malnourishment. Other symptoms that can result from untreated Celiac disease include fatigue, anemia, severe digestive issues, joint or bone pain, and behavior changes.

Because Celiac disease is exasperated by eating foods that contain gluten, the only treatment for this disease is a life-long adherence to a gluten-free diet. While some individuals may choose this lifestyle because it may seem to be the latest and greatest circulating diet fad, those who are suffering with Celiac disease do not have a choice. Remaining on a gluten-free diet is crucial for the management of this chronic disease, and failure to do so can only worsen symptoms of Celiac disease.

What does this mean for someone who has or is susceptible to developing an eating disorder? Research has actually shown us that having a chronic medical condition, such as Celiac disease, may increase the chances of an eating disorder occurring as well [2]. It is important to be aware that having an autoimmune disorder could complicate an existing eating disorder. This may largely be in part to the increased focus and attention on dietary changes, such as the necessity of following a gluten-free diet. Individuals learning to manage Celiac disease through dietary changes may find themselves having greater anxiety about food choices, having to carefully scrutinize and examine food labels, menu items, ingredients, etc. This extreme preoccupation with food can be a trigger for the development of an eating disorder.

Celiac disease is a complicated autoimmune disease that involves severe outcomes if left untreated. One of the most proven treatment outcomes for individuals suffering from Celiac disease is the strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. While following a gluten-free lifestyle may be a choice for some people, Celiac disease sufferers only have this option for treating this disease. Health professionals and family members should be aware of the risks that come with the mandate of following a rigid diet change, even if changes are made strictly for improving one’s health condition.

If you or a loved one is struggling with eating disordered thoughts or behaviors while simultaneously treating Celiac disease, it is important to seek professional help and guidance. Medical and nutritional experts can offer the needed assistance for managing and treating Celiac disease while addressing any underlying eating disorder symptoms that may be occurring as well. As with any case, there is help, healing, and the promise of recovery, even when a serious medical illness, such as Celiac disease is also involved.

References:

[1]: National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, http://www.celiaccentral.org/

[2]: Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Falkner NH, Beuhring T, Resnick MD. Disordered eating among adolescents with chronic illness and disability: the role of family and other social factors. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1998 Sep;152(9):871-8.

*image courtesy of Ambro at freedigitalphotos.net