A new study from UC San Diego School of Medicine suggests the ketogenic diet may help individuals with anorexia nervosa, a severe psychiatric disorder involving food restriction and low body weight.
The small trial, published in the journal Nature, enrolled 22 women ages 18 to 45 with a history of anorexia and a BMI above 17.5. Participants followed a ketogenic therapy plan for 14 weeks-70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbohydrates-designed to maintain weight while inducing nutritional ketosis.
Among the 18 participants who completed the study, eating disorder symptoms improved in several areas: restraint, depression scores, and concern with eating, shape, and weight. Overall scores on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) improved, with 72% scoring in the recovered or normal range. Body weight did not significantly change, and no BMI fell below 17.5.
Lead author Dr. Guido Frank, a psychiatry professor who has studied anorexia for over 25 years, said new approaches are urgently needed. “Our work with ketogenic therapy looks beyond standard therapies and potentially at the underlying physiology of the disorder,” he said, noting growing evidence linking anorexia to neurometabolic dysfunction.
The authors caution the small, predominantly White female sample limits generalizability and call for further research in more diverse populations.