Is the Keto Diet Better Than a Regular Diet, Even with Exercise?

Health

What do the results mean?

Although the results of the study found that participants in the ketogenic group had the best results in terms of weight loss, Wright is quick to point out that this doesn’t necessarily mean this is a more effective weight loss method for this group.

“The greater weight loss resulted from loss of water rather than body fat. Studies show us that the water weight comes back quickly, and often people experience a rebound weight gain in response to the deprivation from the diet and changes in the metabolic rate. It is body fat that increases health issues,” she said.

According to a 2015 study, approximately 35 percent of all U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome. That increases to 50 percent for those 60 and over.

Imageresult for keto diet What do the results mean?

One of the most important steps to preventing and treating metabolic syndrome is weight loss.

A healthy diet combined with exercise helps with this. Experts say that metabolic syndrome occurs less often in those who are regularly engaging in some form of physical activity.

The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends a heart-healthy diet for those with metabolic syndrome, including a high intake of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free diary, whole grains, seafood, and moderate amounts of lean meat, poultry, and oils.

McDaniel says a reduction in carbohydrates is helpful for weight loss, but it doesn’t need to be as extreme as in the ketogenic group in the Bethel study.

“It appears low-carb diets, in general, tend to be more effective for weight loss compared to the standard American diet. Low-carb diets can help people lose weight, but they just don’t have to be this extreme. We have strong evidence that high-quality carbs that contain fiber and resistant starches like vegetables, beans, and whole grains support weight loss and reduce risk factors of the metabolic syndrome,” she said.

Dana Hunnes, PhD, a senior dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, argues that although the study participants in the ketogenic group achieved seemingly better results, this could simply be due to the inadequacies of the standard American diet.

“Almost any diet instead of the standard American diet might result in similar (perhaps attenuated) results. A standard American diet is by no means a healthy diet. It is usually 30 percent fat, often high in saturated fat, 50 percent or more carbs, typically refined carbs that are high in sugar. It is a diet that is typically high in salt and low in fiber and other beneficial nutrients,” she said.

“I’m not sure that comparing this diet (keto) to the standard American diet is really a fair analysis when they could have also compared it to other diets ‘known in the literature’ to reduce the risks for metabolic syndrome,” Hunnes added.