Is The Ketogenic Diet Better For Weight Loss?

 Does the ketogenic diet offer metabolic advantages for weight loss? In short, no, the ketogenic diet is not more effective than a non-ketogenic caloric deficit diet for weight loss and or fat loss. There always seems to be a new dieting trend that pops up every few years and keto is at the top of that list right now. Considering the diet’s currently popularity I figured I would dive into Keto 101.
First, let me define what a true ketogenic diet is exactly since there seems to be some confusion on the topic. A traditional ketogenic diet is a predominantly high fat (80 percent or more), sufficient protein, extremely low-carbohydrate based diet. The purported mechanism at play is the body using fat for fuel rather than carbohydrates (glucose). Typically, carbohydrates are converted into glucose and burned as fuel but with a diet high in fat and extremely low in carbohydrates aka the ketogenic diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketones. In this scenario, ketones replace glucose as the primary source of energy. Some proponents of the ketogenic diet assert that using fat as an alternative fuel source is better for fat loss than other diets but does this jive with research in nutrition science?
The “same old same old” isn’t very sexy and it certainly doesn’t sell many books and diet programs. People driven by instant gratification tend to seek out dieting hacks, shortcuts and secret strategies to lose weight and improve their health. As a result, people keep trying to reinvent the “dieting wheel” so to speak. The problem is that in most cases empirical evidence does not support these dieting trends and the ketogenic dieting trend is no different.
More than any other factor the vast majority of scientific research suggests that a caloric deficit is the most effective way to lose weight. Yes, keto can work for weight loss but it doesn’t offer any metabolic advantage over any other caloric deficit based diet. Whether or not keto is ideal for long term dieting is up for debate. Trying to eat a diet comprised of 80 percent to 90 percent fat isn’t easy for a lot of people and it’s not likely to be an adopted lifestyle change for that reason. In all fairness, many keto adopters claim that they don’t get hungry on a ketogenic diet which makes it easier for them to maintain a caloric deficit. In this case, for some people the ketogenic diet may prove to be more beneficial than other traditional calorie restricted diet. However, despite what some may claim a ketogenic diet doesn’t have magical fat loss properties that offer an advantage over other dieting approaches and strategies. The primary reason a ketogenic diet may produce weight loss results is the fact that it puts the dieter in a caloric deficit. I should also note that in certain cases of cancer, diabetes and epilepsy etc. a ketogenic diet may be very beneficial.
If you find that a ketogenic diet is ideal for your dieting preferences than by all means go for it but please understand that a ketogenic diet doesn’t offer any added metabolic benefit when it comes to effective weight loss.
If you are interested in more information, please visit www.sofhealthandwellness.com or you can reach me directly at 661-713-7576 and James@sofhealthandwellness.com.