Frequency of overweight/obesity among a group of children with celiac disease in Iran

Introduction
A small number of overweight and obese children with celiac disease (CD) has been reported.

Aim
To estimate the prevalence of obesity, underweight and normal weight in a group of Iranian pediatric patients.

Material and methods
In a retrospective study from 2007 to 2015, 225 children less than 18 years old with biopsy-proven CD were enrolled. Data collected included demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, antibody titers and severity of small-bowel mucosal damage. Body mass index (BMI) profile of subjects was calculated based on the age and gender percentile at presentation.

Results
The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for age was 7.4 ±3.8 and 62% of patients were female. Fifty-four percent of patients presented with a normal BMI, 43% were underweight, and the remaining patients (3.5%) were overweight/obese. The mean age of underweight and normal weight patients was higher than that of obese/overweight patients. Mean ± SD of TTG titer was higher in overweight/obese and normal weight children compared to underweight subjects. The majority of patients (195/225) had severe enteropathy compatible with Marsh III on duodenal biopsy. Most of the children had gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-intestinal manifestations on presentation. There was no association between severity of histological disease and BMI for age. Five out of eight cases in the obese/overweight group had an index case with CD in their family.

Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of considering celiac disease in children regardless of their BMI. Failure to diagnose CD in children leads to unnecessary diagnostic delays and long-term adverse health consequences.