Keto Diet: A Promising Approach for Anorexia Recovery

The ketogenic diet, renowned for its fat-burning capabilities, is emerging as a potential treatment for anorexia nervosa. Research indicates that approximately 75% of individuals with eating disorders experienced significant improvements when adhering to a diet rich in fats, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. This dietary approach appears to restore energy release in brain cells linked to anorexia, alleviating anxiety and impulsions to restrict food intake.

Characterized by severe calorie restriction, the keto diet simulates the physiological state of starvation. While it is one of the most lethal mental health conditions, researchers like Guido Frank from the University of California, San Diego suggest that, under careful supervision, the compulsive desire to self-starve may be mitigated. Frank posits that “if the state of craving can be induced while ensuring adequate food intake, the outcomes could be beneficial.”

During a 14-week study, Frank’s team monitored 22 women with anorexia whose body mass index (BMI) had improved to healthy or slightly underweight levels. These participants followed a ketogenic diet under the guidance of a nutritionist, psychiatrist, and peer support counselor experienced in managing anorexia. Weekly assessments were conducted to evaluate weight, mood, and anorexia symptoms, alongside questionnaires tracking body image, depression, food-related anxiety, and fear of weight gain.

Remarkably, 18 participants completing the 14-week regimen exhibited significant enhancement in anorexia symptoms and depressive scores. Of these, 13 participants (72%) improved to below clinical thresholds for both anorexia and depression, with Frank noting, “The recovery levels surpassed those observed in other anorexia treatments.”

Although the main objective of the study was not to gauge weight gain through the keto diet, all participants maintained a healthy or slightly underweight BMI without relapse.

The ketogenic diet derives its name from the metabolic changes it triggers, which are designed to help the body endure periods of famine. Our carbohydrate-centric metabolism converts carbs to glucose for energy within our cells. However, in the absence of carbs, the body shifts to burning fat, generating ketone bodies in the liver, which serve as an alternative energy source.

Originally developed in the 1920s to treat epilepsy, the keto diet was found to mimic the effects of fasting—suppressing seizures without the need for prolonged fasting. By sufficiently limiting carbohydrates, the keto diet simulates a state of starvation while providing enough fats to prevent weight loss.

Ongoing research suggests potential links between numerous mental health issues, including epilepsy and anorexia, and dysfunctions in glucose energy release in the brain. Ketone bodies may provide neuroprotective benefits by serving as an alternative energy source.

According to Sahib Khalsa, a UCLA professor focused on eating disorder research, it’s crucial to differentiate between undergoing supervised treatment and self-experimentation with the keto diet. She stresses that until further data from extensive trials emerges, it’s premature to alter established anorexia treatments, which typically involve nutritional guidance and therapy.