Research

Mixed

A biphasic ketogenic Mediterranean diet (KEMEPHY) protocol, alternating short ketogenic phases with longer maintenance phases, enables significant long-term weight loss and maintenance in obese subjects without the typical weight regain seen in standard diets.

To lose weight long-term, try alternating short periods (20 days) of very low-carb eating with longer periods (months) of a balanced Mediterranean diet. Use protein-rich meal replacements and herbal supplements during the low-carb phases to manage hunger and fatigue. This approach helps you lose weight and keep it off by preventing the metabolic and hormonal backlash that often causes weight regain when you return to normal eating.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
The combination of a biphasic KEMEPHY diet separated by longer periods of maintenance nutrition, based on the traditional Mediterranean diet, led to successful long term weight loss and improvements in health risk factors in a majority of subjects; compliance was very high which was a key determinant of the results seen.
Antonio Paoli et al. · Nutrients · 2013

Why this rating

Retrospective analysis of medical records, not a randomized controlled trial, though sample size is decent (n=68).

Source

Long Term Successful Weight Loss with a Combination Biphasic Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet and Mediterranean Diet Maintenance Protocol

Antonio Paoli et al. · Nutrients · 2013

DOI 10.3390/nu5125205

cohort · n=81Cited 144×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →