Research
Adherence
Ketogenic diets reduce body mass and fat mass primarily through appetite suppression and reduced energy intake, rather than through superior metabolic advantages over isoenergetic non-ketogenic diets.
If you use a ketogenic diet to lose weight, expect it to work because it helps you eat less, not because it burns fat faster. If you match the calories of a low-fat diet, you will lose the same amount of fat. Focus on the appetite-suppressing nature of the diet to maintain a caloric deficit.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
In summary, based on the current evidence, KD are an efficient method to reduce BM and body fat in both individuals with obesity and athletes. However, these positive impacts are mainly because of the appetite suppressive effects of KD, which can decrease daily energy intake. Therefore, KD do not have any superior benefits to non-KD in BM and body fat loss in individuals with obesity and athletic populations in an isoenergetic situation.
Why this rating
Based on a comprehensive review of literature from 1921-2021, including meta-analyses and isoenergetic studies.
Source
Ketogenic diets, physical activity and body composition: a review
Damoon Ashtary‐Larky et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 2021
DOI 10.1017/s0007114521002609
narrative_reviewCited 99×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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