Keto Diet Shows Promise for Anorexia Recovery in New Study

Women recovering from anorexia nervosa saw dramatic improvements in their symptoms after following a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet for just three months.

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine enrolled 22 women with a history of anorexia nervosa in a closely monitored 14-week program. The participants followed a diet of 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbohydrates while maintaining their weight. The goal was to shift their bodies into nutritional ketosis, where the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.

The results surprised even the researchers. Among the 18 women who completed the study, eating disorder symptoms improved across multiple measures. Participants reported less restraint around food, fewer concerns about body shape and weight, and lower depression scores.

Most remarkably, 72% of participants scored in the recovered or normal range on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire by the end of the study. Their body weight remained stable throughout, with no one dropping below a healthy BMI of 17.5.

Three months after the program ended, participants who continued following the ketogenic diet maintained their improvements. The study suggests the diet may help address underlying brain metabolism issues linked to anorexia nervosa.

Why This Inspires

Dr. Guido Frank, who has treated anorexia patients for over 25 years, launched this study because new treatments are desperately needed. Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder, and traditional therapies don't work for everyone.

This research represents a shift in thinking about eating disorders. Rather than focusing solely on psychological symptoms, the ketogenic approach targets potential metabolic dysfunction in the brain itself. Growing evidence suggests that anorexia may involve problems with how the brain processes glucose for energy.

The study opens doors for people who haven't found success with conventional treatments. While the sample size was small and consisted primarily of White women, the findings provide a foundation for larger, more diverse studies in the future.

The research team plans to expand their work with objective brain imaging to better understand how the diet affects brain function. They hope to give doctors and patients another tool in the fight against this devastating disorder.

For families watching loved ones struggle with anorexia, this study offers something precious: another pathway toward healing.