People who eat gluten-free may struggle to find love because others assume they are "demanding." More than 40 percent of people would be reluctant to date someone who avoids the protein found in wheat, barley and rye, a study has found. Regardless of whether people are gluten intolerant or not, omitting gluten makes others think they are selfish, demanding and hard to please.
In the first study of its kind, researchers asked 161 adults if they would date someone who eats gluten-free. Participants express some hesitation about dating a gluten-free individual. Another 132 people took part in alleged online dating, where they were told to "propose themselves on a first date with a person who reveals they are on a gluten-free diet".
They were then asked to rate their hypothetical date on factors such as how nice, moody, picky, and feminine or masculine they thought they would be. Results suggest that 44 percent of people consider gluten-free people to be high-maintenance. About 31 percent consider those on a gluten-free diet to be picky, while 14 percent consider them selfish, demanding, arrogant and hard to please. Others describe them as plaintive, critical, judgmental and controlling.
And when it comes to dating, nearly 10 percent of people think their gluten-free other half would judge them based on what they eat. But six percent of people think gluten-free eaters are understanding, and three percent also think they are happy, energetic, and disciplined. The study also found that those following a gluten-free diet are perceived as more feminine.
Some participants claimed they would be more understanding if someone was cutting gluten because of an allergy than simply because they were following a health trend.
