Article updated November 2024.
If you have clients who complain of ongoing symptoms, it may pay to explore the likelihood of it being coeliac disease, which affects approximately 1 in 70 Australians but alarmingly only 20 per cent of those are diagnosed. So, why is this?
Understanding coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is such an under- diagnosed condition because it presents itself in a wide variety of ways. Often people have many symptoms, which seem unrelated. Let’s be realistic, at times almost everyone suffers from diarrhoea or constipation, headaches, tiredness, stomach pains and bloating (just to name a few symptoms). This is okay if they are short lived but if they are ongoing or frequent then it may be time to do some investigations. To further complicate things, it is possible to have coeliac disease with no symptoms.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition, which means the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues. For people with coeliac disease, this is triggered by gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.
How is coeliac disease diagnosed?
Diagnosis of coeliac disease is straightforward – a simple blood test is the first step. If positive – a referral to a gastroenterologist for a small bowel biopsy – a day procedure under a light anaesthetic is the final step. Coeliac disease is a genetic condition; it is highly recommended that first-degree relatives of sufferers are screened for the condition.
The good news is that coeliac disease is treatable by removing gluten from the diet for life. There is currently no cure and the only prescribed medical treatment is a strict gluten free diet. It sounds overwhelming at first, but can be easily self-managed with education and support from Coeliac Victoria and Tasmania. The reward – improved health, and in most cases, a whole new lease on life.
If you think a client might have coeliac disease, encourage them to ask their doctor for a blood test while they are still eating gluten. It is imperative that they continue eating gluten-containing foods throughout the testing period or the test results may be affected.
Knowledge is the key ingredient to a successful outcome once a diagnosis has been made. Contact your state Coeliac Australia support centre – 1300 458 836, or check www.coeliac.org.au for further information about symptoms and diagnosis.
To obtain the best from your clients its worth encouraging them to ask them the question “Could it be coeliac disease?” and if the answer is ‘yes’, have them seek advice from their doctor BEFORE they begin trying a gluten-free diet.
Article written by Coeliac Australia for the What’s New in Fitness Magazine.
Check out these articles:
Personal Training Clients on Weight Loss Medication
As more Australians embark on medical weight loss treatments, many trainers now find themselves training clients on weight loss medication without fully understanding what these drugs do, how they affect exercise performance, or what’s within their professional scope. Clients may casually mention, “I’ve just started Ozempic,” leaving trainers torn between curiosity, concern and confusion. In
Training Clients with TFCC Injury: A Practical Guide for Fitness Professionals
You’ve worked hard programming an intense session for your client, only to have them walk into the gym clutching a crumpled radiology report and saying, “My physio says it’s a TFCC tear.” It’s normal for trainers to freeze at a point somewhere between concern, confusion, and “Wait… what complex?” before realising that all your programming
Promoting Progress Over Perfection: Guiding Clients In Pursuit of The “Beach Body”
With summer just around the corner, it’s no surprise that many Australians are starting to think about how they’ll look and feel when the weather heats up. But new survey findings show that plenty of people are still chasing the idea of the “perfect summer body” and some are willing to take extreme measures to
The Muscle Trainers Forget: Coaching The Pelvic Floor Safely
Article written by Mish Wright. Let’s clear this up right away: the pelvic floor is a muscle. Like any other muscle in the body, it can get weak and dysfunctional, it can be too tight and dysfunctional, and here’s the good news – it can get stronger at any age or stage of life. But
Exercise as the Key to Independence for Older Adults
Less than a generation ago, turning 40 was thought of as middle aged, and starting a ‘Fitness Over 40’ exercise program would have been shrugged off as a waste of time for it being too late to get in shape. Now, what we think of as ‘middle aged’ or ‘old’ has changed as people live
Fitness Racing Continues to Thrive with YOHKA Sports at the Forefront
Obstacle, adventure or fitness racing – whatever you call it, there’s no doubt that people around the world love this dynamic sport. Aussie-born fitness racing brand, YOHKA Sports, recently announced the appointment of Todd Liubinskas as CEO and with the sport gaining serious momentum on a global level, he takes the reigns moving into an
Pantry Staples For Transitioning To A Healthier Lifestyle In 2025
With crisp, new planners and journals being purchased and new year’s resolutions being pondered, there are a lot of us setting the intention to eat better and exercise more. WNiF’s resident nutritionist and dietitian, Talia Sparks shares some tips for setting yourself up for success in 2025… Having a well stocked pantry complete with nutritious
Our 2024 Guide To Christmas Gifts For Fitness Trainers
It’s that time of year when the shops are getting busier and you have to check the expected delivery dates for the things you order online. With only weeks to go before the fat man in the red suit comes to town, you need to get your butt into gear when it comes to your
Weightlifting Feet: How Strong Is Your Foot Core?
When I’m at the gym I’m always baffled by all of the trainers/gym goers ‘pumping iron’ and doing cardio. I can safely say that most or all gym goers have forgotten their crucial core muscles; the ones that help stabilise the body to conduct certain movements from deadlifts, to squats, to running. Are you training