I’ve learned a lot about celiac disease and these are the most important things I’ve learned.

10. Mass Screening May Be Coming

Mass screening for celiac disease may soon become a standard practice. Researchers are consistently finding large numbers of undiagnosed adults and children when widespread screening is performed. Much of the time, these newly diagnosed patients do not have “typical” celiac symptoms.

The Norwegian mass screening study confirms what many researchers have suspected — celiac disease is far more common than diagnosis rates suggest. Early detection is critical to prevent long-term complications such as osteoporosis, infertility, and certain autoimmune conditions.

9. The “Typical” Celiac Patient Is Changing

Twenty years ago, the classic image of a celiac patient was a white child with persistent diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition. Today, researchers know that celiac disease affects all populations at roughly the same rate — and patients can be underweight, overweight, or appear completely healthy.

New red flags that often trigger celiac workups now include:

• Unexplained iron deficiency anemia
• Early onset osteoporosis
• Persistent constipation

See our article on celiac symptoms you might miss to learn more.

8. The Emotional and Mental Health Toll

Celiac patients are often motivated by fear — fear of long-term complications, of accidental gluten exposure, and for many parents, fear for their children’s future health. Taken to extremes, this fear can lead to orthorexia, a form of disordered eating where patients severely restrict their diet to only a few “safe” foods.

The social and emotional burden of celiac disease is significant, not just for patients, but also for their families and caregivers. Unfortunately, research on the psychological impact of celiac disease is lagging. The last major study comparing the burden of celiac to end-stage renal disease was published in 2014. More work is needed from the mental health community.

Explore more on mental health and celiac disease.

7. A Surprising Shift in Attitudes

Interestingly, celiac patients today seem less angry about the gluten-free “fad” than they used to be. Many are almost grateful that the trend brought greater awareness of gluten-free needs, making it easier to find safe foods in restaurants and grocery stores.

Check out our thoughts on how gluten-free popularity has shaped awareness.

What’s Next

This is part 1 of our series on the Top 10 Things I’ve Learned About Celiac Disease. In the next installment, we’ll explore items 6 -2 where we talk about symptoms and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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