Can Going Gluten-Free Make You Fat?

For people with Celiac Disease, it is a medical necessity to avoid eating gluten, but recently, other people are also going gluten-free in the hopes it will help them shed pounds. Going gluten-free is being touted in women’s magazines as a new way to help everyone shed pounds quickly. Experts warn that could backfire.

It worked for John Libonati who launched www.glutenfreeworks.com. ”I lost seven pounds right away and 25 pounds over the next two and a half months,” he said. His girlfriend Rose Miller also cut out gluten and dropped seven pounds. But neither has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

Registered dietician Emily Rubin of Jefferson University Hospital says in some cases going gluten free can mean eating healthier because people may be eating more fruits and vegetables and no preservatives. But as a diet overall, Rubin said, “I would not recommend a gluten-free diet if you need to lose weight.” Here’s why: In order to make some bread and starches gluten-free without killing the taste, many food-makers add in extra fat and sugar and gluten free products have less fiber.

Read the full article by Ali Gorman, R.N. & Cheryl Mettendorf, published January 21, 2010: abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/health&id=7232753.