Gluten free ‘most popular approach to weight loss’ for 2013 (but it doesn’t work, say dietitians)

By Elaine WATSON

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Gluten-free diet

Gluten free ‘most popular diet' (but it doesn’t work, say dietitians)
Despite strong evidence to the contrary, the belief that a gluten-free diet will help you lose weight and improve your health - even if you don’t have celiac disease - continues to gain momentum, according to a new survey.

According to a poll of more than 200 registered dietitians conducted by marketing and PR agency Pollock Communications, wheat belly/gluten free’ is predicted to be the “most popular approach to weight loss​” in 2013, just ahead of commercial diet programs such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.

"Dietitians were split down the middle, with wheat belly/gluten free (42%) beating out commercial diet programs (41%) by only one percent as the most popular approach to weight loss", ​said the agency.

Dietitians recognize this as a fad and a trend for 2013 among consumers

obesity-istock-Don Bayley
The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics says that "only those that have a gluten intolerance or have celiac disease should eliminate gluten from their diets".

However, New York City-based RD Jenna A. Bell, PhD, told FoodNavigator-USA that the approach was not one that dietitians recommended as a weight loss tool, adding: “Consumers believe that gluten-free will help them lose weight, but the research does not support this claim.

“Dietitians recognize this as a fad and a trend for 2013 among consumers, but it's not a recommended strategy for weight reduction.

“That said, gluten-free foods have provided an important option for individuals suffering from a clinically diagnosed gluten intolerance or celiac disease.”

Asked for comment on the survey findings, Ryan O'Malley, media relations manager at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told us: “We don’t have an official position on gluten-free diets used as weight loss tools, but we do not recommend them for weight-loss.

“Rather we advise that only those that have a gluten intolerance or have celiac disease should eliminate gluten from their diets.”

People on gluten-free diets often gain weight

whole-grains-conference-logo

Speaking at October’s Whole Grains on Every Plate conference in San Antonio, Pamela Cureton, clinical research dietitian at the Center for Celiac Research, noted that celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Miley Cyrus continue to promote gluten-free diets for weight management - although there is “no scientific basis​” behind the approach.

Indeed, she added, “people on gluten-free diets often gain weight as many gluten-free foods are quite calorie dense.

“Gluten-free diets are often higher in fat and lower in vitamin B12, zinc, iron and folate.”

As for top athletes, several of whom are now advocating gluten-free living, she said: “There is no evidence that a gluten-free diet will increase sports performance.”

There is no [validated] biomarker for gluten sensitivity

It is also important to stress that gluten sensitivity or intolerance, which is believed to affect up to 5-6% of Americans, is not the same as celiac disease, which is an auto-immune disorder which causes damage to the gut wall if not diagnosed, she said.

“People will gluten sensitivity will often have faster and more violent symptoms or reactions to gluten than celiacs, but they do not have the intestinal damage associated with celiac disease.”

Meanwhile, contrary to popular belief, “there is no​ [validated] biomarker for gluten sensitivity​”, she claimed.

“We’re trying to find one, but there is a lot of misinformation out in the public about this.”

The conviction that gluten-free is healthier is the top motivation for purchase

Udis-gluten-free

According to data from SPINS, sales of gluten-free products were up 19% in the year to September 2012 in natural and conventional channels combined (excluding Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market).

Mintel data meanwhile, shows that the number of new product launches featuring gluten-free claims rose from 600 in 2007 to more than 1,600 in 2011, while a report published this week from Symphony Consulting (a division of SymphonyIRI), reveals that sales of products making some kind of 'Dietary Restriction' claim such as gluten free or dairy free accounted for 33% of sales of products making an on-pack claim of some kind.

But what is driving the growth?

Asked why they buy gluten-free products in an August 2012 Packaged Facts consumer survey, 35% said gluten-free products are "generally healthier",​ 27% said "to manage my weight​", 21% said that gluten free products are "generally low-carb​" and 15% said a member of the household has a gluten or wheat intolerance.

Just 7% said they were buying them because a household member has celiac disease.

Indeed, according to Packaged Facts, "The conviction that gluten-free products are generally healthier is the top motivation for purchase of these products.”

Why is the prevalence of celiac disease rising?

all-natural-campbell
Natural simple ingredients are in; low-fat and low-carb are out...

According to Cureton, just under 1% of the US population is estimated to have celiac disease, less than 10% of which are diagnosed, she said.

“What we do know is that true prevalence of celiac disease is increasing, and this is not just because more people are getting diagnosed. Why this is, we still don’t know.”

Natural and simple are in; low-fat and low-carb are out

Other top diet and lifestyle trends identified by the dietitians in the Pollock Communications survey include:

  • Natural and simple with few ingredients are in; low-fat and low-carb are out…
  • Social media, smart phone apps and dietitians will be the go-to sources for nutrition information in 2013…
  • Consumers will focus on eating high quality calories - foods with more nutrition per bite…
  • Eating more fruits and vegetables  
     

 

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8 comments

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People still looking for a quick, convenient "cure"

Posted by Britni,

I couldn’t figure out what was making me feel so horrible until I started eliminating foods from my diet. I was never diagnosed with celiac disease because I believe in listening to my body. I was sick all the time and decided enough was enough. I was taking pills to make me feel better from the food I was eating, that’s craziness!!! So I got smart and said no more. My energy is back, my mood is up, I am sleeping again and most importantly, smiling and laughing again. You can't eat gluten-free cookies, bagels, and breads and expect to lose wt and get healthy. But people will and doctors/Big Corps will blame the gluten-free fad and people will be back at McDonald's in no time. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO PUT IN THE WORK. PERIOD. ( It took me a year to get myself healthy and back on track.)So those that are fat and unhealthy because they eat at McDonald's 3xs a week and make hamburger helper the rest of the nights will never, ever be healthy because they haven't figured out them, alone, got themselves that way and they, alone, have to change. People fear inconvenience and of course businesses know this and will and have fed this fear with all the packaged bs. Do not buy the pre-packaged food. No matter if gluten-free. Eat fresh, organic/local veggies and fruits with some good clean meat, if you so choose and some beans and rice. Everything else is a treat. A TREAT, as in you don't get to eat the cookies, cakes, breads, creams and chips every day or even once a week. Discipline, people! Starts at home and starts with you. Take responsibility.

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No grains at all, not just gluten-free does work

Posted by Deana,

I am sensitive to wheat and gluten. I did a gluten-free diet with all the GF versions of cookies, breads, pizza crust, bagels, etc. That is too much empty calorie carbs for weight loss. I am now not eating any grains at all, mostly primal, and feel better than I ever have.

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Re: Elisa

Posted by Janne,

Note that you stuck to one-ingredient foods. That means you cut out pretty much all processed foods, including sugary foods. That could (and probably does) account for a large part of the weight loss.

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