Obesity

Ketogenic Diets for Body Weight Loss—A Comparison with Other Diets

With obesity rates rising worldwide, alternative weight-loss strategies like the ketogenic diet (KD) are gaining attention. KD is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that induces ketosis, where the body primarily burns fat for energy.

Researchers reviewed the literature to evaluate the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet (KD) compared to other weight-loss strategies.  

They found that KD offers the following advantages:

Appetite Regulation:

• Suppresses hunger and reduces ghrelin levels
• Ketones increase satiety, reducing food cravings
• Enables weight loss without the need for deliberate calorie countin

Rapid Initial Weight Loss:

• Reduces glycogen stores and water retention
• Lower insulin levels lead to increased sodium and water excretion

Glycemic Control & Insulin Sensitivity:

• Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces glucose fluctuations
• Lowers fasting insulin and improves insulin sensitivity within days

Anti-Inflammatory Effects:

• Reduces inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-6
• Beta-hydroxybutyrate has direct anti-inflammatory effects

Reduced Need for Medications:

• Mimics effects of weight-loss drugs without side effects
• Supports blood sugar control and appetite regulation

Psychological & Cognitive Benefits:

• Improves mood and reduces anxiety
• May help manage food addiction and substance use disorders

This review concluded that the ketogenic diet provides benefits over other weight-loss diets, including better appetite control, faster weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation. It may also decrease medication dependence and enhance psychological well-being, supporting long-term weight management.