Spotlight on Keto Research: Feb 28th 2025 - Weight Loss & Body Composition
This week’s Spotlight on Keto Research explores the intersection of weight loss, body composition, and dietary strategies for long-term metabolic health. Continue reading to learn about the potential of therapeutic carbohydrate reduction for sustained weight loss, the role of ketogenic diets in preserving muscle mass, the effects of ketogenic diets on body composition, and how dietary choices impact insulin response and raise the risk of fatty liver disease in children.
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?? Buchanan et al. TOWARD, a metabolic health intervention, demonstrates robust 1-year weight loss and cost-savings through deprescription
A metabolic health intervention combining therapeutic carbohydrate reduction (TCR), remote monitoring, and coaching led to significant weight loss and medication reduction over one year. This study found that participants in the TOWARD program lost an average of 15.5% of their body weight while reducing medication use, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, without compromising weight maintenance. The intervention also demonstrated substantial cost savings, highlighting its potential as a scalable and effective alternative for managing obesity and metabolic disease.
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?? Athinarayanan & Volek. Mitigating muscle loss during weight loss: can nutritional ketosis make a difference? A call for more research
Preserving lean body mass during weight loss is crucial for maintaining muscle function and metabolic health. This perspective paper explores emerging evidence suggesting that a well-formulated ketogenic diet may help mitigate lean mass loss, particularly in the context of significant weight reduction seen with GLP-1 therapies and bariatric surgery. While preliminary findings are promising, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind lean mass preservation in nutritional ketosis, and to optimize weight loss strategies that maintain physical function and prevent frailty.
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?? Leung et al. Effects of ketogenic and low-carbohydrate diets on the body composition of adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
A ketogenic or low-carbohydrate diet (KD/LCD) may be effective for improving body composition in adults with overweight or obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that KD/LCD significantly reduced body weight, BMI, and body fat percentage, with the most pronounced effects observed when carbohydrate intake was restricted to ≤50g per day for at least one month.
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?? Nikparast et al. Dietary and lifestyle indices for hyperinsulinemia and odds of MAFLD in overweight and obese children and adolescents
A lifestyle that promotes higher insulin secretion may increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in overweight and obese children and adolescents. This study found that those with the highest empirical lifestyle index for hyperinsulinemia —which accounts for dietary habits, physical activity, and BMI—had significantly greater odds of developing MAFLD. These findings highlight the importance of managing insulin response through a combination of dietary and lifestyle strategies to reduce metabolic risk in young populations.
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?? Gong et al. Time-restricted feeding improves metabolic syndrome by activating thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue and reducing inflammatory markers
Time-restricted eating may improve metabolic syndrome by enhancing thermogenesis and reducing inflammation. This study in a high-fat diet mouse model found that time-restricted feeding improved insulin resistance, reduced hepatic fat accumulation, and increased the activity of thermogenic genes in brown adipose tissue. Additionally, circulating inflammatory markers were lowered, suggesting that this may be a promising dietary strategy for managing obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions.
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