Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume: 13 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 286-295
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260333
Ketogenic Diet Effect on Weight Loss and Lipids in Obesity
I Gusti Ayu Indira Pratiwi1, Agustinus I Wayan Harimawan2
1Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
2Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University/Ngoerah Hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: I Gusti Ayu Indira Pratiwi
ABSTRACT
Obesity is a major global health problem associated with increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The ketogenic diet, characterized by very low carbohydrate and high fat intake, has gained attention as a dietary strategy for weight management and metabolic improvement. This systematic review evaluates its effects on body weight and lipid profiles across diverse populations. A comprehensive search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library identified eight eligible studies involving obese adults, patients with type 2 diabetes, and overweight children and adolescents, with intervention durations ranging from 4 weeks to 2 years. The findings consistently showed significant weight loss, ranging from 1.5 kg to 14.2 kg, depending on study duration and population characteristics. Changes in lipid profiles were variable: most studies reported increased low-density lipoprotein levels, raising potential cardiovascular concerns, while high-density lipoprotein levels generally increased and triglyceride levels decreased, indicating certain cardiometabolic benefits. These effects may be explained by ketosis-induced changes in fat oxidation, insulin regulation, and lipid metabolism. In conclusion, the ketogenic diet appears effective for short-term weight loss; however, its long-term safety, particularly regarding lipid profile alterations, requires further investigation and careful monitoring.
Keywords: ketogenic diet, weight loss, lipid profile, obesity, cardiovascular risk
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