{"id":7613,"date":"2020-01-03T10:00:03","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7613"},"modified":"2025-10-16T14:00:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T18:00:12","slug":"does-keto-diet-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-keto-diet-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Does the keto diet work for everyone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you haven\u2019t heard of the keto diet by now, it\u2019s probably safe to say that keeping up with the latest health trends isn\u2019t really your thing. From wellness websites and doctor\u2019s office magazines to the Twitter feeds of your favorite celebs, the keto diet has been everywhere in recent years. There are an array of diets encompassing the \u201c<\/span>ketogenic dietary therapies\u201d (KDTs). KDTs include the classic ketogenic diet, the modified Atkins diet, the low glycemic index treatment, and the medium-chain triglyceride diet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the jury is largely still out on the benefits of keto, it\u2019s often touted as the answer to everyone\u2019s weight loss prayers. But <\/span>does<\/span><\/i> the keto diet work for everyone? Unfortunately, nutrition experts say no. It can be restrictive, tough to sustain, and downright unhealthy for some people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking of trying it, here\u2019s what you should know.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the keto diet?<\/h2>\n

The classic ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein (like 1 gram\/kg), low-carbohydrate diet that produces metabolic changes associated with the starvation state<\/span>. <\/span>The ketogenic diet was developed in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy, according to registered dietitian Lainey Younkin, owner of <\/span>Lainey Younkin Nutrition<\/span><\/a>. Now, Younkin says, it\u2019s a fad diet based on putting your body into ketosis, a process of burning stored fat cells for energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does keto work?<\/h2>\n

Proponents of keto say the low-carbohydrate, high-fat approach can lead to significant amounts of weight loss. \u201cPeople do lose weight,\u201d agrees Younkin. \u201cBut can they keep that weight off and can they follow keto long-term? For most people, the answer to those questions is no.\u201d In other words, it\u2019s not necessarily the kind of permanent lifestyle change you\u2019re hoping to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many health professionals worry about the extreme nature of the diet, which limits your carb intake to less than 50 net grams per day and may lead to nutritional deficits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who should try a keto diet?<\/h2>\n

So who <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> a good candidate for keto? In short: people with seizures. While people with seizures should be on medication, the addition of maintaining a keto diet can help decrease their risk of a breakthrough seizure. (For more information on the connection between epilepsy and keto, this <\/span>review<\/span><\/a> in <\/span>Frontiers in Neuroscience<\/span><\/i> breaks down much of the relevant research.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to registered dietitian Danielle Schaub, culinary and nutrition manager for <\/span>Territory Foods<\/span><\/a>, the diet can also help people who are looking to:<\/span><\/p>\n