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Celiac disease, a relatively rare disease affecting the GI tract, has been on the rise in the United States according to a new study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology. In fact, its incidence is up almost four times what it was 50 years ago.

Celiac disease affects an individual’s ability to digest gluten causing inflammation in the small intestine. This inflammation creates malabsorption issues for nutrients the body needs to properly function. Treatment is largely diet-centered (consuming items with no traces of wheat or other grains containing gluten), but the disease can be life-threatening.

I’m curious as to whether this trend is limited to the United States and/or if it can be directly linked to an increase in fast-food intake by the average American household.

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As a third year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine, my posts are intended to educate others and share my experiences from this incredible journey without violating patient privacy at all costs. These blurbs are not to serve as a replacement for recommendations provided by licensed physicians under any circumstance.