A recent study reviewed the ketogenic (keto) diet and found it may have serious risks, especially for certain groups of people.
Researchers warn that this popular diet, known for being very low in carbohydrates and high in fats, could harm pregnant women, people with kidney disease, and possibly others in the long run.
The keto diet aims to reduce carbs drastically while focusing on fats and moderate protein intake. This mix forces the body to enter a state called ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.
Although it’s been promoted for weight loss and other health conditions, this new study suggests that the risks of the diet often outweigh its benefits.
The study highlights major concerns about how the keto diet could harm overall health. Pregnant women or those planning to have children may face a higher risk of neural tube defects in their babies, even if they take folic acid supplements.
Neural tube defects affect the brain and spine of a developing baby, and researchers link these issues to the lack of certain nutrients caused by the keto diet’s low-carb restrictions.
For people with kidney disease, the diet could worsen their condition. A high-protein version of keto, in particular, may speed up kidney failure.
Even for people without kidney problems, the diet can raise levels of LDL cholesterol—commonly known as “bad cholesterol”—which increases the risk of heart disease over time.
The researchers also pointed out that keto diets often promote foods like red meat, processed meats, and saturated fats, while discouraging carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
This imbalance could lead to a higher chance of developing diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease—ironically, the same conditions the diet is sometimes said to prevent.
The foods typically eaten on a keto diet have been linked to long-term health risks, making this approach less safe than it appears.
Although some people see weight loss results in the short term, the study found that keto is no more effective for weight loss than other diets over time. Moreover, the benefits seem limited when compared to the risks.
The researchers noted that the only proven, reliable use of the keto diet is for managing seizures in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. For this specific condition, the diet has been shown to reduce seizure frequency effectively.
The popularity of the keto diet often comes from promises of quick fixes for weight loss or improved health. However, this study urges people to think carefully about the long-term effects.
Instead of following restrictive diets, focusing on balanced eating patterns that include a variety of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins may be a healthier and safer choice.
For those interested in weight loss, the researchers recommend looking into studies on common diet myths or alternatives that don’t come with such high risks.
For example, research has shown that diet drinks might actually lead to weight gain rather than weight loss, and many popular health foods are not as effective as they seem.
This review, conducted by Lee Crosby and colleagues, was published in Frontiers in Nutrition. It serves as a reminder that while certain diets may work for some people in specific situations, they may not be suitable—or safe—for everyone.
When considering a major change to your eating habits, consulting with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian is always a good idea.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies that Mediterranean diet can reduce belly fat much better, and Keto diet could help control body weight and blood sugar in diabetes.
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