Hormonal
Combining a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) with liraglutide produces significantly greater weight loss and metabolic improvements compared to VLCKD alone, primarily through synergistic appetite suppression.
If you are struggling to lose weight with a very low-calorie ketogenic diet alone, adding liraglutide can significantly boost your results. In this study, adding the drug led to nearly 6kg more weight loss over 4 months. Be aware that you are much more likely to experience nausea or constipation, but for most participants, this did not stop them from completing the program. Consult a doctor to see if this combination is safe and appropriate for you, especially given the cost and side effect profile.
Combining a protein-rich VLCKD with liraglutide could, therefore, provide synergistic appetite suppression via both ghrelin-dependent and ghrelin-independent pathways, potentially resulting in greater weight loss.
Why this rating
Non-randomized, observational, real-world study with a small sample size (n=40 completed) and short duration (4 months).
Source
Very low‐calorie ketogenic diet and liraglutide as a synergistic strategy for the treatment of obesity: A short‐term, non‐randomised, observational, real‐world clinical evaluation
Elisabetta Camajani et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2025
DOI 10.1111/dom.16658
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