ketogenic diet

American  

[kee-toh-jen-ik dahy-it] / ˌki toʊˈdʒɛn ɪk ˈdaɪ ɪt /

noun

ketogenic diets plural

1. a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that causes the breakdown of fats into ketone bodies, which consequently replace carbohydrates as the body’s main source of energy: used as a regimen for weight loss, the ketogenic diet is also used to control certain medical disorders or episodes, especially epileptic seizures in children.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ketogenic diets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ketogenic diet

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ketogenic diet

She also points out that following a ketogenic diet can be difficult.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 9, 2026

The secretary also recently declared that the ketogenic diet can cure schizophrenia, a fringe idea that has been rejected by every expert in the field.

From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2026

Compared with mice eating a high-fat Western diet, those on the ketogenic diet gained significantly less weight.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026

The ketogenic diet is built around extremely high fat intake and very limited carbohydrates.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026

Although the ketogenic diet was first developed as a treatment for epilepsy, it has become widely popular in recent years for weight loss and for managing conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026