Recent population studies show that coeliac disease is a common condition affecting around 1 in 100 people. The estimated ratio of diagnosed to undiagnosed individuals is 1:8, and the average delay in diagnosis is reported to be 11 years. The presentations are protean and patients are increasingly diagnosed later in life. The contemporary coeliac patient is diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60, has a normal or even high BMI, and subtle symptoms.