Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet A Potential Treatment For Binge Eating And Food Addiction Symptoms In Women. A Pilot Study

This pilot study examined whether a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) could help women struggling with binge eating and food addiction - conditions where people find it extremely difficult to stop eating certain processed, high-sugar foods despite wanting to lose weight. The researchers recognized that many people who struggle with weight loss have addiction-like responses to ultra-processed foods that make traditional dieting approaches ineffective.

The study followed five women (average age 36, average BMI 31) who had been diagnosed with binge eating disorder and/or food addiction symptoms. The participants first followed a very low-calorie ketogenic diet with protein supplements for 5-7 weeks, then transitioned to a regular low-calorie diet for 11-21 weeks. The researchers measured their food addiction and binge eating symptoms, body weight, and muscle mass at the beginning and end of each phase.

The results were promising: all five women lost significant weight (between 7-13% of their starting weight by the end of the study) and completely eliminated their binge eating and food addiction symptoms. Importantly, they maintained their muscle mass throughout the process, which is crucial for long-term metabolic health. The ketogenic phase appeared to break the cycle of food cravings and compulsive eating, allowing participants to transition successfully to a more sustainable eating pattern.

While this was a very small study, it suggests that ketogenic diets might offer a unique therapeutic approach for people whose weight struggles are rooted in food addiction rather than simple overeating. This connects to clinical practice by providing evidence that some patients may benefit from addressing the neurochemical aspects of food cravings before transitioning to conventional weight management approaches.