What does science say about Ketogenic diet and Obesity?
- We don’t say yes or no. We show what has been studied.
- Working in a lab or in animals does not mean it works in people.
- Don’t stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.
What has been studied
- Lab studies (cells)Tests on cells in a dish.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed1study
- Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed75studies
- Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed328studies
- Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 26 · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 0 · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:No phase (26)By status:Completed (15)Recruiting (6)Running, not recruiting (3)By invitation only (1)Not yet recruiting (1)Countries (8):Italy (8)United States (8)Netherlands (2)Poland (2)United Kingdom (1)Jordan (1)Mexico (1)Sweden (1)With a linked publication (results): 4 of 26The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.26trials
- Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No
Examples of what we found
The trials
No phase
Effect of Nicotinamide Riboside on Ketosis, Fat Oxidation & Metabolic Rate
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06044935No phase
Ketogenic Diet and Diabetes Demonstration Project
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06115265No phase
Ketogenic Diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
By invitation only · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05799768No phase
Time Restricted Feeding, Muscle, and Metabolism
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04949451No phase
Safety and Efficacy of Ketogenic Diet for Promoting Weight Loss in Obese Individuals With Compensated NASH Cirrhosis
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04383951No phase
Precision Nutrition and Metabolic Function
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04131166No phase
Complex Effects of Dietary Manipulation on Metabolic Function, Inflammation and Health
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT02706262No phase
Dietary Macronutrients and Metabolic Markers
Completed · Poland
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT07775326No phase
Determination of the Optimal Nutrient Mix to Acutely Increase Plasma Ketones
Completed · Netherlands
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06511206No phase
Very Low Ketogenic Diet and Energy Expenditure
Completed · Italy
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06252077No phase
A Study of Ketogenic Diet in Newly Diagnosed Overweight or Obese Endometrial Cancer Patients
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03285152
Thinking of paying for it? Read this first
- Ask for published results. Stories, thank-you letters and "patients report" are not results. Ask where the results were published.
- Know what you pay for. Ask in writing: what exactly is included, who gets the money, and what happens if you stop.
- Ask your own doctor first. Some products interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other medicines. Your treating doctor can check this.
- Do not stop standard treatment for it. Do not stop or delay your treatment without talking to your care team.
Other treatments people ask about
- Cannabis and cannabinoids (CBD, THC)Step: Large trials
- Curcumin (turmeric)Step: Large trials
- Fasting and fasting-mimicking dietStep: Large trials
- High-dose vitamin CStep: Large trials
- HyperthermiaStep: Large trials
- IvermectinStep: Large trials
- Ketogenic dietStep: Large trials
- MelatoninStep: Large trials
- MetforminStep: Large trials
- StatinsStep: Large trials
- Vitamin DStep: Large trials
- Dichloroacetate (DCA)Step: Animal studies only
- FenbendazoleStep: Animal studies only
- Mistletoe extractStep: Animal studies only
Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.