Energy balance
A 3-month low energy diet (800-900 kcal/d) combined with professional dietitian support and subsequent exercise intervention produces significant, sustained weight loss and improves cardiometabolic markers in adults with obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages G1-G3b.
If you have obesity and early-stage kidney disease, a structured low-calorie diet (800-900 calories) using meal replacements, supported by a dietitian and exercise professional, is a safe and effective way to lose significant weight (approx. 9kg over 6 months) and improve blood pressure and waist size. It requires professional oversight to manage blood sugar and kidney markers, but it does not inherently harm kidney function or muscle strength when monitored.
At 6 months, median (IQR) weight change was -9.0 kg (-12 to -7) in the LED group and 0 kg (-4 to 2) in the UC group (P < 0.001)... LEDs under professional guidance are safe and feasible for weight loss in adults with obesity and CKD Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes stages G1 to G3b.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial design, but limited by small sample size (n=49), short duration (6 months), and feasibility-focused rather than efficacy-focused power calculations.
Source
Low Energy Diets for Obesity and CKD (SLOW-CKD Randomized Feasibility Study)
Marguerite Conley et al. · Kidney International Reports · 2025
DOI 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.04.021
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