Actively Recruiting
Therapeutic Ketogenic Diet in Anorexia Nervosa
Led by University of California, San Diego · Updated on 2025-09-05
20
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
195 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This study will investigate the effects of therapeutic ketogenic diet (TKD) on eating behavior including drive to restrict, body dissatisfaction, mood and anxiety in individuals with anorexia nervosa who have been weight normalized (body mass index of 17.5 or greater) but continue to struggle with eating disorder behaviors including a high drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. The Underweight Anorexia Nervosa (AN) Sub-Study will investigate the effects of TKD on eating behavior including drive to restrict, body dissatisfaction, mood and anxiety in individuals with anorexia nervosa who are currently underweight (body mass index between 16.0 and 17.49) and continue to struggle with eating disorder behaviors including a high drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. The Bulimia Nervosa Pilot will will investigate the effects of TKD on eating behavior including drive to binge and purge, body dissatisfaction, mood and anxiety in individuals with bulimia nervosa.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Therapeutic Ketogenic Diet in Anorexia Nervosa
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Signed and dated informed consent form
- Willingness to comply with all study procedures and be available for the study duration
- Aged 18 to 45 years
- Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa according to DSM-5 criteria
- For weight-recovered anorexia nervosa: BMI greater than 17.5 kg/m2
- For underweight anorexia nervosa: BMI between 16.0 and 17.49
- Elevated eating disorder symptoms indicated by specific questionnaire scores
- Allowed psychiatric medications include antidepressants, anxiolytics, atypical antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers
- English is the primary spoken language
You will not qualify if you...
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Abnormalities in electrolytes, blood count, kidney, or liver function
- Psychosis
- Neurocognitive disorders including symptomatic dementias or traumatic brain injury
- Current alcohol or substance use disorder
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Hepatic impairment (Class-Pugh b or c)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Family history of porphyria
- Recent heart attack, vascular disease, or other acute medical conditions
- Inability or unwillingness to follow the ketogenic diet for the study duration
- Blindness or illiteracy
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California, United States, 92121
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Megan Shott, BS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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