In a study conducted by Shai et al. (2008), it was discovered that a low-carb (LC) diet, like the ketogenic diet, offered a benefit akin to a calorie deficit diet, despite not imposing calorie restrictions. The researchers suggest that a LC diet could be an ideal option for individuals who struggle with adhering to a calorie-restricted regimen because it allows them to eat until they feel satisfied while still likely reducing their overall calorie consumption.

An analogous extended-duration (56 weeks) ketogenic investigation was carried out by Dashti et al. (2007) involving 66 individuals classified as obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30. All participants were directed to consume fewer than 20 grams of carbohydrates in the form of green vegetables and salads for the initial 12 weeks, after which they were allowed to incrementally raise their daily carbohydrate intake to 40 grams. Notably, substantial reductions in weight and BMI were observed in all participants. Remarkably, individuals were encouraged to sustain a state of nutritional ketosis, and they consistently achieved ongoing reductions in both body weight and BMI throughout the entire study period.

In a comparable investigation conducted by Samaha et al. (2003), it was similarly observed that patients achieved significantly greater weight loss over a six-month period when following a diet limited to 30 grams of carbohydrates per day compared to a low-fat diet.

Furthermore, in researching the effectiveness of a low-calorie (LC) diet, it was compared to that of a highly-restricted very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (VLCKD) in managing health outcomes for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Impressively, the VLCKD group achieved near-normal blood sugar levels within just 24 weeks, which was not observed in the LC group. Additionally, individuals in the VLCKD group, on average, were able to reduce their insulin doses by half, and doses of sulfonylurea medications were either halved or completely discontinued (Hussain et al. 2012).