There has been a lot of talk about gluten-free diets lately. And a question I am frequently asked is – is it good weight loss method for kids and teenagers? My answer is that gluten free diets are not a weight loss guarantee. Nor are they necessary, advisable or appropriate for otherwise healthy, (non-Celiac) teens. There is no reason to remove all gluten containing ingredients from the diet (and there is a very extensive list) if there is no allergy or intolerance that has been confirmed by a physician.
However, changing teenage eating habits can be challenging, so working out a plan that only includes favorable, wholesome, whole grain carbohydrates is always advisable. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Cereal Science by a team researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, found that there are no scientific evidence to support negative public opinion on whole-wheat products that contain gluten, namely that they are the cause of obesity.