Spectrum of Body Mass Index in Patients With Celiac Disease

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2022

Publication Title

American Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

Introduction:

Although generally perceived to be mostly underweight, patients with celiac disease (CeD) can be of normal weight or even overweight/obese. We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to assess the body mass index (BMI) of treatment-naïve patients with CeD in comparison to the population controls.

Methods:

In a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of treatment-naive patients with CeD, we included 583 patients (419 adults [43.7% males] and 164 adolescents [43.9% males]). Details extracted from our database included demographic details, height, weight, laboratory and histopathological parameters. The data of 375,460 adults (12.7% males) and 71,315 adolescents (12.1% males) of Indian National Family Health Survey-4 was considered as the population controls.

Results:

Although majority of adult and adolescent patients with CeD patients had BMI in normal or underweight range, a significant proportion were overweight or obese (adults 10.3%, adolescents 3.7%) (Figure). The mean BMI in patients with CeD was significantly lower than the population controls for adults (men 19.8 vs 21.8 kg/m2, P < 0.001; women 20.5 vs 21.8 kg/m2, P < 0.001) and adolescents (BMI Z-scores: boys -1.4 vs -0.5, P < 0.001; girls -1 vs -0.4, P < 0.001). Higher proportion of adults (men 11.2% vs 1.9%, P < 0.001; women 10.7% vs 3.2%, P < 0.001) and adolescents (boys 10.4% vs 0.2%, P < 0.001; girls 1.6% vs 0.2%, P = 0.01) with CeD were severely underweight compared to population controls.

Conclusion:

While majority of adult and adolescent patients with CeD have a lower BMI compared to population controls, a significant proportion can be overweight and even obese.

Volume

117

Issue

10 Suppl

First Page

e1119

Comments

American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting, October 21-26, 2022, Charlotte, NC.

19th International Celiac Disease Symposium, October 19-22, 2022, Sorento, Italy.

DOI

10.14309/01.ajg.0000862912.40900.fa

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