Source Analysis
The Keto Diet was originally used by Dr. Frederick Allen in diabetes treatment and was later developed for use in epilepsy cases by Dr. Russell Wilder in the 1920s (Kiddie, 2021). Today, some research, such as a narrative review by Di Raimondo et al. (2021), supports the effectiveness of the Keto Diet for weight loss. However, it is difficult to establish when exactly this Diet gained popularity as a weight loss method.
Bias in Funding
The Diet was originally developed strictly for medical purposes. However, as the Diet gained significant popularity among weight loss marketologists, the number of associated products and services began growing. As a result, today, many apps, mentor programs, and other products are being marketed around the Keto Diet (see Figure 1) (Knoebel, 2019). This situation is facilitated by growing commercial interests, generating bias in promoting specific products and supplements claiming to enhance the Diet’s efficiency.
Research Method Analysis
The articles included in the study by Di Raimondo et al. (2021) need consistent definitions of the key terms (such as low-carbohydrate diet) and provide proper context. Furthermore, most studies are conducted with limited and strictly homogenous populations with very specific characteristics that can significantly skew the results (Di Raimondo et al., 2021). Therefore, it is difficult to confirm the validity of the researchers’ claims.
Independent Research Analysis
There is a significant amount of research documenting the effectiveness of the Diet for epilepsy treatment (Ułamek-Kozioł et al., 2019). There is also substantial evidence of the Diet’s mild effectiveness for weight loss (Basolo et al., 2022). However, there is a serious lack of long-term follow-up studies that would confirm the Diet’s sustainability (Basolo et al., 2022). Therefore, the overall validity of the Diet’s long-term health benefits cannot be confirmed.
First, the method’s use for weight loss was never supported by its original authors, raising questions about the validity of the original claims. Second, there is substantial evidence of significant marketing efforts to promote and sell products and services associated with the Diet, potentially generating commercial bias. Third, there needs to be more consistency and evidence of the Keto Diet’s long-term effectiveness, health safety, and broad applicability. In conclusion, the claims of Keto Diet’s effectiveness as a weight loss method lack consistent evidence and credible ground and, therefore, need to be more reputable.
References
Basolo, A., Magno, S., Santini, F., & Ceccarini, G. (2022). Ketogenic diet and weight loss: Is there an effect on energy expenditure?. Nutrients, 14(9), pp. 1814-1823. Web.
Di Raimondo, D., Buscemi, S., Musiari, G., Rizzo, G., Pirera, E., Corleo, D., Pinto, A., & Tuttolomondo, A. (2021). Ketogenic diet, physical activity, and hypertension: A narrative review. Nutrients, 13(8), pp. 2567-2580. Web.
Kiddie, J. (2021). A ketogenic diet was used first in diabetes then epilepsy. The Low Carb Healthy Fat Dietitian. Web.
Knoebel, A. (2019). Ketogenic diet: Good nutrition or just good marketing?. Forbes. Web.
The keto weight loss timeline: How much weight can you lose on keto? (2023). Keto Cycle. Web.
Ułamek-Kozioł, M., Czuczwar, S. J., Januszewski, S., & Pluta, R. (2019). Ketogenic diet and epilepsy. Nutrients, 11(10), pp. 2510-2522. Web.