Question: I am a man in my 50s who is about 40 pounds overweight. I’ve tried various diets without success. Now I’ve been reading about the gluten-free diet where you don’t eat anything with wheat. Do you think this diet is effective?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten, and as you have rightly pointed out, avoiding wheat, barley, rye, and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). This diet is a treatment for celiac disease. Persons following a gluten-free diet may have low levels of certain vitamins and nutrients in their diets. Avoiding grains may mean eating fewer of vitamin enriched products.
Many latest reports are reporting that even among persons with celiac disease, following a gluten-free diet may lead to weight gain. On the other hand, there are reports that individuals have lost substantial amount of weight by remaining gluten-free.
What you really need is a diet plan in consultation with a nutritionist who can recommend the right foods to choose (which may include some gluten-free foods) and burning calories through an active exercise program. Attempting various diets may help in short-term, but long-term weight management is best done by a nutritious, balanced meal and exercise.