Efficacy of low carbohydrate ketogenic diet in weight management: A narrative review

Abstract

Obesity is a condition when the BMI (Body Mass Index) is 30 or higher. This body condition has become a serious health issue all over the world as it is the potential risk factor of many non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease etc. Ketogenic diet has gained immense popularity as a means of weight loss. Ketogenic diet or low carbohydrate diet with high-fat content has turned out to be effective in weight management and reduce the potential risk factor of non-communicable diseases. However, the aim of this review is to understand the mechanism of production of ketone bodies which mainly act as the source of energy, and the impact of a ketogenic diet on reducing body weight. Extensive literature review was conducted to find out the related original research papers and review papers. This study revealed that timeframe of a ketogenic diet is an important factor in the weight management program. Studies with 6 months time periods were found to be significantly reduce weight than those with more than 6 months study duration. It was also observed that ketogenic diet-based studies with more than 6 months time period are not superior to a normal diet whereas within 6 months of ketogenic diet initiation program, a drastic change in weight can be experienced. Moreover, health practitioners are not fully convinced about this popular weight-reducing diet. Adherence to a ketogenic diet for longer periods is difficult, and the associated risk factors such as increased risk of heart disease, fatty liver, and insulin resistance are also a matter of health concern.