Keto diet may help people avoid weight gain
Shutterstock/Brent Hoffaker
People with type 2 diabetes can avoid regaining weight if they follow a ketogenic diet after they stop taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy. The findings, from a small study, challenge the idea that people must take these drugs indefinitely to prevent weight gain.
Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which reduce appetite and increase the release of insulin. They are often used to help people with type 2 diabetes regulate blood sugar and lose weight. However, many experts believe people must take the medication long-term or the weight will come back.
Shamini Atinarayanan She and her colleagues at Virta Health, a US telemedicine company that treats type 2 diabetes, decided to test this hypothesis. They were inspired to do so by previous research showing that low-carbohydrate diets, such as the ketogenic diet, can help control blood sugar levels and weight in people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers tracked the weight and blood sugar levels of 308 adults living in the United States with type 2 diabetes who were receiving nutritional therapy at Virta Health. They were all taking GLP-1 agonists at the time of enrollment. Participants were advised to follow a ketogenic diet – meaning they were told to eat less than 30g of carbohydrates per day, or less than 50g if vegetarian, and about 1.5g of protein per kilogram of body weight. Encourage them to eat until they feel full, regardless of the calories. Health coaches and licensed medical professionals communicate virtually with participants as needed.
After three to nine months, half of the participants stopped using GLP-1 agonists. All participants continued to follow the ketogenic diet for one year. At this point, the researchers found no significant differences in weight or blood sugar levels between the two groups. On average, participants who stopped taking GLP-1 agonists gained only about 1 kilogram of weight. In comparison, people who continued taking the drug gained about 2 kilograms. Most participants in both groups also had blood sugar levels below the threshold for diagnosing diabetes.
“This study shows that with the right interventions, it is not necessary for many people to continue using GLP-1 agonists,” Athinarayanan said. “You can safely and effectively stop (these drugs) and maintain weight and blood glucose results.”
Says it could help people who are unable to take their medications due to shortages or side effects Priya Jaisinghani NYU Langone Health. However, she said people must talk to their doctor before starting a low-carb diet because it can pose risks, especially for those with underlying conditions such as kidney disease or eating disorders. She also noted that the study was sponsored by Virta Health and included only a small number of participants. Therefore, Jasinhani said, “This is not the final result.” “But this shows that diet can make a difference.”
Blissfulcalmways
