A new study out of UC San Diego School of Medicine, published in Communications Medicine and funded by Baszucki Group, looked at the feasibility of ketogenic therapy for individuals living with anorexia nervosa.
The study focused on women with anorexia nervosa who were no longer severely underweight but were still experiencing the psychological symptoms associated with their eating disorder. Weight normalization is one goal for treatment of anorexia nervosa, but for many patients, the psychological symptoms of the disorder persist even after that milestone is reached.
Participants followed a 14-week ketogenic intervention, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein eating pattern, with close support from licensed eating disorder specialists. The intervention was structured as 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbohydrates, with meals either provided by a meal delivery service or prepared by participants themselves.
Each participant had 14 individual sessions with a licensed dietitian, weekly psychiatric assessments, peer counseling support, submitted post-meal photographs to track consumption, and tested their ketone levels daily for the first two weeks and weekly thereafter. Diets were tailored to each person’s needs, strict safety protocols were in place throughout, and people with dangerously low body weight were excluded.
A common concern about ketogenic therapy is the persistent perception of the diet as primarily a weight-loss intervention. In the context of anorexia nervosa, this concern is especially significant. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether ketogenic therapy could reduce the psychological symptoms of the disorder in people who had already normalized their weight. Weight was monitored closely throughout the study, and participants did not experience significant weight change. These findings are a reminder that ketogenic therapy is a metabolic intervention with potentially far-reaching effects on brain function and psychiatric symptoms, not simply a tool for managing body weight.
Of the 22 women enrolled, 18 (82%) completed the full study. By the end, 72% of completers scored in the recovered range on eating disorder assessments as measured by two validated scales, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3). All completers showed improvement in depression scores as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), with 72% falling within the normal range by study end. Study completers also showed significant improvements in self-esteem, anxiety, and functional impairment. Notably, 40% of completers experienced mild side effects early in the intervention, but all fully resolved by the study’s end.
These results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that metabolic dysfunction may play a role in anorexia nervosa and other psychiatric conditions. Researchers hypothesize that switching the brain’s primary fuel source from glucose to ketones may help regulate neural function and reduce the psychological symptoms associated with the disorder. Larger, controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings. A follow-up study enrolling people with both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is currently underway and recruiting participants across the country. If you or someone you know may be eligible, speak with your healthcare provider to learn more about participating.
Disclaimer: The diet was delivered under close medical supervision and is not something people should attempt on their own. Anyone with anorexia nervosa considering dietary changes should consult with their care team.
