A new twist in extreme weight loss is being imposed in some parts of the United States. It is called the "ketogenic diet."
People who promote the diet say they use the body's own fat burning system to help people lose weight in just 10 days.
It is also known to help moderate the symptoms of children with epilepsy, although experts are not quite sure why it works.
Proponents say that diet can cause rapid weight loss and provide a person with more energy.
However, critics say that diet is an unhealthy way to lose weight and in some cases it can be downright dangerous.


Read more: What is the "Caveman Diet"? »

What is ketosis?


The "keto" diet is any extremely low or carbohydrate diet that forces the body to a state of ketosis.

Ketosis occurs when people eat a diet low in carbohydrates or without carbohydrates and molecules called ketones accumulate in the bloodstream.


Low carbohydrate levels cause blood sugar levels to drop and the body begins to break down fat for energy.

Ketosis is actually a mild form of ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis mainly affects people with type 1 diabetes. In fact, it is the leading cause of death of people with diabetes under 24 years.

However, many experts say that ketosis itself is not necessarily harmful.

Some Trusted Source studies, in fact, suggest that a ketogenic diet is safe for people who are significantly overweight or obese.

However, other clinical reviews indicate that patients with low carbohydrate diets recover part of their weight lost in a year.

Read more: How exercise helps you lose weight

Where is it useful


The keto diet was created by Dr. Gianfranco Cappello, associate professor of surgery at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy.


It affirms a great success among thousands of users. In their study, Trusted Source, more than 19,000 dieters experienced rapid and significant weight loss, few side effects and most maintained weight after one year.

According to the reported results, patients lost an average of 10.2 kilograms, or about 22 pounds, after 2.5 cycles of the keto diet. Cappello concluded that the diet was a successful way for overweight and obese people to lose weight, and the few side effects, such as fatigue, are easily managed.

Bette Klein, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, has used the keto diet for years to help relieve the symptoms of children with epilepsy.

She told kahelath that it is particularly effective with children with refractory epilepsy who have not responded well to at least two different drug treatments.

Klein said that about half of these children who follow the diet see a reduction in the number of attacks they have.
However, the dietitian said medical professionals are not sure why the diet works in these cases.
"There is o clear definition of what is happening," he said.

Rudy Saima, a sports nutritionist, has also had some success with the type of keto diet.
He said he uses this low carb approach with some people who have trouble losing weight. It also has high performance athletes in the plan.

A benefit is its rapid results. People can lose some initial weight quickly and that, in turn, helps to encourage them.

You can feel motivated by this weight loss
He added that the keto diet is simple in concept. Eliminate a food group, facilitating the tracking of people.

He said the diet also makes people feel full despite having fewer calories and giving them more energy. That is because, he said, people are abandoning their slow diet of processed foods. He added that the keto diet keeps blood sugar levels stable, which produces a more stable energy flow.

Saima points out that there are some drawbacks.
He said the diet would not necessarily improve athletic performance, a fact that can discourage some athletes.

He added that people must adhere closely to the program or it will not work.
"It's a very strict diet," said Saima. "You have to do everything right."
Each individual, he says, is different and will react differently to that program.