Ketogenic diet may be suitable for children.

AlabasterVerve

The Diet Doctor linked to another study that showed a low carb diet proved to be more successful than a low calorie diet -- this time it was for children. Inflammatory blog post:

A Low Carb Diet Superior for Overweight Children Once Again

Do you want to lose weight? Study after study shows that if you do, you should avoid sugar and starch. This is also true for children and youth. A new study showed that children (on average 13 years old) lost more weight on a strict low carbohydrate diet, despite eating until satisfied!

Children who instead received low fat and low calorie dietary advice had more difficulty losing weight, despite going hungry. Nor did their health markers improve in comparison.

At least two studies have previously demonstrated better weight for overweight children and youth who were given advice on a strict low carbohydrate diet u]1 2[/u. And altogether there are now at least 18 studies of highest standard (RCT) clearly demonstrating a better weight on a low carbohydrate diet compared to “eat less and run more”. The latter advice has to my knowledge never won in any comparative study. Nor has anybody been able to show me such a study.

This means 18-0 in favor of a low carbohydrate diet.

A low carbohydrate diet is dieting for smart people who enjoy life (and who exercise for the purpose of being fit and feeling well). Eating pasta daily, counting calories and having to exercise like an elite athlete to get slim is a good option for masochists.

http://www.dietdoctor.com/a-low-carb-diet-superior-for-overweight-children-once-again#comments
(follow the link to the original blog post if you're interested in the underlined hyperlinks)

The actual study is behind a paywall but the summary states the ketogenic diet was more effective than a low calorie diet in terms of weight loss and health markers.

Results: Both groups significantly reduced their weight, fat mass, waist circumference, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR (p=0.009 for ketogenic and p=0.014 for hypocaloric), but the differences were greater in the ketogenic group. Both groups increased WBISI significantly, but only the ketogenic group increased HMW adiponectin significantly (p=0.025).

Conclusions: The ketogenic diet revealed more pronounced improvements in weight loss and metabolic parameters than the hypocaloric diet and may be a feasible and safe alternative for children’s weight loss.

http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jpem.2012.25.issue-7-8/jpem-2012-0131/jpem-2012-0131.xml

llstacy

This kind of stuff encourages me to stick with my low carb diet when most of the people around me are saying it's just a fad...it's not healthy...don't deprive myself...it's unsustainable...bla bla bla. Thanks for posting this AV!

_noob_

Combo of vegan and primal or gtfo.

Acg67

Should be titled, diet doctor herps again. Do you happen to know if protein was held constant and how they tracked for diet and exercise? Seeing it was for 6 months, it most likely used some sort of recall, which is awesomely accurate. Also how was BF measured? BIA?

sunsnstatheart

A low carbohydrate diet is dieting for smart people who enjoy life (and who exercise for the purpose of being fit and feeling well). Eating pasta daily, counting calories and having to exercise like an elite athlete to get slim is a good option for masochists.

This seems to miss the middle ground by just a tad.

iAMsmiling

A low carbohydrate diet is dieting for smart people who enjoy life (and who exercise for the purpose of being fit and feeling well). Eating pasta daily, counting calories and having to exercise like an elite athlete to get slim is a good option for masochists.

This seems to miss the middle ground by just a tad.

WhoTheHellIsBen

I guess heart disease isn't a thing in Sweden

myofibril

Tell that to Rachel Huskey's parents...

_noob_

I guess heart disease isn't a thing in Sweden

care to write us a piece on the affects of low carb diets on heart disease rates using peer reviewed sources?

WhoTheHellIsBen

I guess heart disease isn't a thing in Sweden

care to write us a piece on the affects of low carb diets on heart disease rates using peer reviewed sources?

No need, over here in reality many have already written these studies. Knowing you won't actually invest anytime in this I will leave you with just the Mayo clinic study

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196

_noob_

I guess heart disease isn't a thing in Sweden

care to write us a piece on the affects of low carb diets on heart disease rates using peer reviewed sources?

No need, over here in reality many have already written these studies. Knowing you won't actually invest anytime in this I will leave you with just the Mayo clinic study

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196

last tme I checked the literature the consesus seemed to be there was no consensus...quick search confirms that...

ninerbuff

Overweight children are overweight because of over consumption. Fricken parents just need to take note.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

AlabasterVerve

Overweight children are overweight because of over consumption. Fricken parents just need to take note.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I'm amazed that you remember to copy and paste your signature to every single post you make. It's obnoxious but I'm sure that kind of dedication and stick-to-it-ive-ness has served you well in life. Plus it makes it easy to skip over your posts when I've reached my limit for the day.

robot_potato

Hmmm. My kids eat plenty of carbs, but they love other foods too. They also play outside, rather than staring at a screen all day, mindlessly stuffing junk into their gobs. Not to say they don't ever watch tv or play video games, they do that as well. Moderation mght also be suitable for kids. Better yet, people in general.

DrLabRat

I'd be concerned about the neurological effects of a ketogenic diet in children. I'm aware that ketogenic diets are used to manage epilepsy in children, but I don't think it is medically advisable to place just any-old-child on a ketogenic diet. Children are learning, growing, developing... and while they (and adults, for that matter) are evolutionarily programmed to survive all sorts of stressful situations... we just don't know enough about the human brain to be certain that chronic, long-term deprivation of carbs is safe for children. Adults seem to do okay with it, but kids aren't just little adults.

My suggestion: Think twice before pacing your child into ketosis. Ketosis IS a 'stress response' and chronic ketosis could be harmful to children (or it might not be... we just don't know for sure! Do you want your child to be the guinea pig?)

MaximizedGains

A ketogenic diet is never a good idea, and forcing it on children is absurd.

MaximizedGains

Combo of vegan and primal or gtfo.

I'm sorry, what? Are you mentally disabled? This is by far the worst nutrition advice I've ever heard. Ever.

DrLabRat

A ketogenic diet is never a good idea, and forcing it on children is absurd.

"Never" is a bit too strong a word. There ARE medical situations when ketogenic is beneficial. As mentioned, it IS a valid strategy for managing epilepsy, one that could be used after careful consideration and under supervision of a medical specialist. There is also data supporting the use of ketogenic diets in Alzheimer's disease.

Craigamears

I guess heart disease isn't a thing in Sweden

care to write us a piece on the affects of low carb diets on heart disease rates using peer reviewed sources?

No need, over here in reality many have already written these studies. Knowing you won't actually invest anytime in this I will leave you with just the Mayo clinic study

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196

This is just a Mayo web page without references. The poster had requested a peer reviewed study.

DrLabRat

This is just a Mayo web page without references. The poster had requested a peer reviewed study.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom. See that thing that says "references"? Click the + sign by the word and you will see that the page IS referenced.

The Mayo Clinic does a great job of presenting 'standard of care' type info. Right now, most doctors and researchers still believe that diets high in saturated fat are linked to heart disease. There is, of course, evidence challenging this hypothesis, but for now, that's still the favored dogma.

Craigamears

This is just a Mayo web page without references. The poster had requested a peer reviewed study.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom. See that thing that says "references"? Click the + sign by the word and you will see that the page IS referenced.

The Mayo Clinic does a great job of presenting 'standard of care' type info. Right now, most doctors and researchers still believe that diets high in saturated fat are linked to heart disease. There is, of course, evidence challenging this hypothesis, but for now, that's still the favored dogma.

Thanks Doc for pointing out the reference links. I am used to reading sites that have them actually listed like in a journal. I did go on to look at the references and they are only consumer oriented things like the CDC brochure that tells us to eat our fruits and vegetables and unfortunately it has not studies in it.

They are doing good work on Alzheimer's and they are the designated Brain Center for Florida. So perhaps in their true research output meant for scientific consumption they may have some good stuff on the effects of ketones on neuron pathology.

Thanks for your help.

IrishChik

I laugh when people tell me low-carb is just a fad. Huh. Cause last time I checked diabetes wasn't a fad and yet if you check their meal plans its pretty low carb. As a matter of fact its what my dietitian and 2 other doctors recommend for me when we found out I was insulin resistant due to PCOS.

DrLabRat

I laugh when people tell me low-carb is just a fad. Huh. Cause last time I checked diabetes wasn't a fad and yet if you check their meal plans its pretty low carb. As a matter of fact its what my dietitian and 2 other doctors recommend for me when we found out I was insulin resistant due to PCOS.

Low carb is not always the same thing as ketogenic. It's a matter of extremes.

Besides, this topic is about ketogenic diets for children, not for those who are diabetic or insulin resistant.

AlabasterVerve

I laugh when people tell me low-carb is just a fad. Huh. Cause last time I checked diabetes wasn't a fad and yet if you check their meal plans its pretty low carb. As a matter of fact its what my dietitian and 2 other doctors recommend for me when we found out I was insulin resistant due to PCOS.

Low carb is not always the same thing as ketogenic. It's a matter of extremes.

Besides, this topic is about ketogenic diets for children, not for those who are diabetic or insulin resistant.

Umm... but the reason why a child might be put on a diet in the first place is because they're insulin resistant or diabetic and markers for those things improved more on the ketogenic diet vs the low calorie diet.

Measured: anthropometric measurements, body composition,, lipidemic profile, high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined before and after each diet.

WendyTerry420

Children should not be placed on special diets, especially fad diets.

AlabasterVerve

Children should not be placed on special diets, especially fad diets.

In theory I agree with that but the fact is that A LOT of children are eating a diet that's making them fat and sick. If a "special diet" prevents that in the first place or reverses it after the fact I think it would be cruel not to treat them. Children should not have health concerns that used to be reserved for middle aged adults.

DrLabRat

Umm... but the reason why a child might be put on a diet in the first place is because they're insulin resistant or diabetic and markers for those things improved more on the ketogenic diet vs the low calorie diet.

Measured: anthropometric measurements, body composition,, lipidemic profile, high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined before and after each diet.

Yes. I understand that. The problem is (as I've already mentioned), there is INSUFFICIENT evidence to ensure that this type of diet is safe for children, even diabetic children. Could it be safe? Yes. Could it be unsafe? Yes. My concern is brain development. Children are developing, learning, growing. Would you willingly place your child on a diet that might hamper that child's neurological development? Would you willingly place your child on a diet that might decrease that child's ability to learn?

I would like to see more research regarding the safety of ketogenic diets in children with special focus on brain function. I bring this to your attention (and anyone else who reads this thread) because I am uncomfortable leaving something unchallenged when it might affect the health of kids. Children can't make the choices adults make- they are subject to the whims of their parents. Adults may weight the benefits and risks of ketogenesis. Children can't. I hope that responsible parents will be aware of the literature available regarding ketogenesis and children. I hope that responsible parents will not assume that 'safe for adults' means 'safe for kids'. And I really hope that parents will not read your article and say 'good enough for me!' and start forcing children into ketosis when we simply do NOT know if it's safe for kids.

Now, of course, I could be wrong. Maybe there's a plethora of scientific, peer-reviewed clinical studies conducted on human children demonstrating that there is no difference between learning and brain development in children on a chronic ketogenic diet compared with children on a well-balanced 'western' diet. I would love to see this data if its available. I've not found it.

DrLabRat

Keep in mind that ketogenic diets are not the only way to lose weight. Also, a 'low carb' diet doesn't necessarily mean a 'ketogenic' diet. Diabetic children can still eat low carb without going into ketosis.

AlabasterVerve

Yes. I understand that. The problem is (as I've already mentioned), there is INSUFFICIENT evidence to ensure that this type of diet is safe for children, even diabetic children. Could it be safe? Yes. Could it be unsafe? Yes. My concern is... <snip>

Of course, I think that falls under the realm of common sense.

Zerashen

Sounds like an interesting study. My thing would be that if I had kids, I'd focus more on their exercise instead of worrying about their diet. I'd limit fast food, and try to add more veggies, but my focus would be going outside with them, encouraging them to sign up for a sport, etc..

Sabine_Stroehm

Combo of vegan and primal or gtfo.

I'm sorry, what? Are you mentally disabled? This is by far the worst nutrition advice I've ever heard. Ever.

Wow. That was rude as hell.