A ketogenic diet for reducing obesity and maintaining capacity for physical activity: hype or hope?

Abstract

This review will evaluate the recent scientific literature on the efficacy of the ketogenic diet for enhancing weight loss and maintaining capacity for physical activity. With the increasing obesity epidemic, the 21st century has witnessed the emergence of various diet programs aimed at promoting weight loss and enhancing physical performance. The ketogenic diet, a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates, has been at the forefront. Recent literature has documented significant weight-loss following ketogenic diet interventions. This has been associated with a decrease in systemic inflammation, reduced insulin resistance, and improved lipid profile. Given the importance of physical activity to sustaining a healthy weight, the impact of a ketogenic diet on physical performance has been investigated. The majority of the current literature supports a positive influence of the ketogenic diet on physical activity owing to its ability to maintain performance of both endurance and resistance activities. We highlight the most important recent advances that have been made on the ketogenic diet in relation to obesity and capacity for physical activity. The ketogenic diet is a potentially promising diet for reducing obesity while maintaining capacity for physical activity. However, questions surrounding the sustainability of this diet for the long-term remain.