Will Wimbledon help raise the profile of coeliac disease?

Hello, and welcome to the 3rd Love Food blog.
It is amazing to think that 1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease but did you know 85-90% are still undiagnosed. People who are intolerant to gluten often experience different symptoms and you don’t just have to experience gut symptoms such as diarrhoea, as other symptoms for coeliac disease may be weight loss, muscle wasting and abdominal pain – some or all of which you may be uncomfortably familiar with.

With Wimbledon coming up, more attention will be on Novak Djokovic as recently he found out that he was coeliac and he claims that changing to a gluten free diet has helped him with his game, by excelling recently on the tennis court and in May winning the Rome Masters.

Following diagnosis, some people find that they gain weight, because the lining of the gut heals and nutrients from food are absorbed normally again. Although for others it is different. Djokovic has said he has lost some weight but the main change for him is his sharper focus and feeling much better physically. If you want any advice on weight loss/gain and healthy eating from our dietitian then our Love Food club has a dedicated section Coeliac Disease and Healthy Eating with tips on healthy gluten free eating, including which nutrients are especially essential for coeliacs.

Last year Djokovic reached the semi-final at Wimbledon and is considered one of the top players to beat along with Nadal, Federer and Murray. Hopefully we will see Murray and Djokovic in the final!

More importantly I hope the profile of coeliac disease, its symptoms and treatment of sticking to a strictly gluten free diet become more prominent as the UK follows the Wimbledon press.
Let’s hope it encourages some of the 90% to go to the doctors to be tested for coeliac disease!

Updated 3rd July:
Glutafin was watching the Wimbledon final this weekend and was pleased to see BBC mentioning Djokovic having to start a gluten free diet. Hopefully this national press coverage will encourage others to get tested at GP's for coeliac disease! Well done Djokovic!