The Claim
In women with obesity, a 1-month very-low-calorie ketogenic diet is associated with a 10% reduction in 24-hour energy expenditure and sleeping metabolic rate, primarily explained by a 5.6% loss of lean soft tissue rather than direct metabolic adaptation.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In women with obesity, following a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet for one month leads to a 10% drop in daily and nighttime calorie burning, which is mainly due to losing 5.6% of muscle and other lean tissue, not because the body's metabolism slows down on its own.
See the scientific wording
In women with obesity, a 1-month very-low-calorie ketogenic diet is associated with a 10% reduction in 24-hour energy expenditure and sleeping metabolic rate, which is primarily explained by the concurrent 5.6% loss of lean soft tissue rather than a direct metabolic adaptation.
When the body is starved of carbohydrates and calories, it breaks down muscle to make glucose, which reduces the amount of metabolically active tissue. With less muscle, the body burns fewer calories at rest. At the same time, the thyroid hormone that drives calorie burning is converted into a less active form, further lowering energy use. These two changes together explain why the body burns less energy without any other metabolic slowdown.
What the research says
1 studyAfter one month on a very low-calorie keto diet, women lost weight, including some muscle, and their bodies burned fewer calories overall — mostly because they had less muscle, not because their metabolism slowed on its own.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.