Objectives and study: Initiation of life long gluten free diet in children with celiac disease (CD) influences the child’s life in many aspects. In addition to the psychological effects, several studies among children with CD reported a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. The effects of the diet on the child’s family were scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of GFD on the child and his/her family’s eating habits and lifestyle behaviors.
Methods: Children and their parents filled out the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questioner (FEAHQ) at the time of diagnosis of CD and at least 5 months after initiation of GFD. The FEAHQ assess physical activity, exposure to various food such snacks and candies, eating related to hunger and eating styles. In addition questions assessing symptoms related to CD and adherence to diet was also given.
Results: Forty families were studied; twenty females, aged from 4 to 15.7 years (median age 7.4 years± 2.8 years). All presenting symptoms of CD improved significantly after GFD. Most patients improved their height and weight ɀ scores (64% and 62% respectively). Overweight and obesity slightly increase after GFD (7.5% and 10%). When assessing physical activity the patients had increased activity (p=0.04), whereas the parents showed decreased activity (p=0.4). After GFD the family ate more snacks and candies (p=0.05), with the significant change reported by the children and fathers (p=0.001 and 0.03 respectively). Finally, parents and patients reported increased in obesogenic eating styles (p values: mothers 0.001, fathers 0.02 and children 0.02).
Conclusions: Our study shows that initiation of GFD in children with CD leads to changes in eating habits and staple food eating that may lead to a more obesogenic environment. As obesity is increasing in the general population and in CD it is crucial for the gastroenterologist to be aware and of this side effect of GFD and to identify and educate families towards a more healthy life style and diet.
