You may have tried every diet and workout under the sun to lose weight. About 15 percent of American adults have also tried products marketed as weight-loss supplements, such as KetoBod or other keto gummies. If you’ve seen claims about KetoBod, you may have wondered whether it’s safe and effective.

Let’s take a look at what KetoBod is, its weight-loss claims, and whether there’s any evidence to support them.

What Is KetoBod?

KetoBod is a brand of gummy supplement made for people on the ketogenic (keto) diet. Ingredients in keto gummies can vary, but they usually contain medium-chain triglycerides (saturated fats) and ketones — a type of energy the body makes from fat. Since the ketones in keto gummies aren’t made within the body, they’re called exogenous ketones.

KetoBod gummies include many other ingredients as well, such as apple cider vinegar, calcium, magnesium, sodium, cane sugar, corn syrup, starch, apple pectin, citric acid, and sorbitol.

The Keto Diet

The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. Historically, the diet was used to help manage medical conditions like diabetes and epilepsy. Now, with the rise of other low-carb diet plans, people have started to view the keto diet as a potential weight-loss diet.

The idea behind the keto diet is that by reducing your carb intake, you’re also reducing the amount of glucose (a simple sugar) in your body. Glucose is the body’s primary energy source, so eating a low-carb diet forces your body to make energy in a different way. First, the body uses stored glucose from the liver. It also breaks down some muscle to produce more glucose. After the body’s supply of glucose disappears, it begins burning body fat for fuel in the form of ketones.

How Keto Gummies Are Meant To Work

Keto gummies are meant to be used alongside the keto diet. The point of the gummies is to help you remain in a state of ketosis — where your body is burning ketones for fuel. In ketosis, your body burns fat to create energy since it doesn’t have its main source of energy, glucose. KetoBod gummies are supposed to help you stay in ketosis longer.

Can Keto Gummies Help You Lose Weight?

Before we look at whether keto gummies can help with weight loss, let’s discuss how the keto diet can affect weight.

The Keto Diet and Weight Loss

Studies have shown that following the keto diet can have several health benefits, including weight loss. In the short-term, following the keto diet had positive effects on:

• Insulin levels
• Cholesterol levels and triglycerides
• Blood pressure

These metabolic changes mean that the keto diet may be helpful for people with certain conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, research hasn’t been able to figure out exactly how following the keto diet results in weight loss. Possible explanations include:

• Eating a high-fat diet makes you feel full longer and reduces food cravings.
• Eating a low-carb diet reduces appetite-stimulating hormones, such as insulin.
• Ketone bodies have a direct effect by curbing hunger.
• More calories are burned by making glucose using fat and protein.
• Lower levels of insulin promote fat loss.

Evidence for Keto Supplements

Research hasn’t proven whether KetoBod gummies are effective for maintaining ketosis. However, other exogenous ketones have been the focus of some research studies.

One review noted that ketone supplements do increase blood levels of ketones. This increase occurs quickly in everyone, whether they follow the keto diet or not. However, people on a nonketo diet don’t benefit from the same metabolic changes. Another study found that consuming ketone supplements might actually stop your body from making its own ketones.

Several studies have evaluated exogenous ketones in the form of ketone drinks. A small study showed that ketone drinks reduced glucose levels and improved circulation in people with obesity. The study didn’t assess the effect of ketone drinks on weight. Another study found that ketone drinks improved energy levels during exercise. On the other hand, a different study found the drinks had no effect on body weight or metabolic function in people eating a regular diet.

Research has also shown that types of ketones impact the body differently. Certain ketones boost the breakdown of fat, while others do the opposite. These effects may be different depending on how long you’ve taken ketone supplements.

Do Keto Gummies Help Weight Loss?

No evidence currently exists to support the use of keto gummies for weight management. Though there have been studies on keto supplements, results have yet to show an impact on weight.

On the other hand, weight loss has been linked to the keto diet. Positive metabolic changes associated with the diet show that it may be a helpful treatment option for some people with obesity. In particular, it may help people who have had trouble losing weight with other diets and exercise. People who follow the keto diet may benefit from KetoBod supplements.

Due to the inconsistent evidence on ketone supplements, it’s important to first speak with your doctor before trying them. KetoBod shouldn’t be used to manage weight in place of healthy lifestyle choices like exercise, balanced eating, and adequate sleep — all of which can impact weight.

Potential Side Effects of KetoBod and the Keto Diet

Like any other nutritional supplement, it’s possible that you might experience side effects from KetoBod or other keto gummies. Potential side effects include:

• Low blood sugar levels
• Diarrhea or other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dehydration

There are some safety concerns linked to the keto diet. Ketoacidosis, for example, can occur if you have too many ketones in the body. This is a toxic condition where too much acid builds up in the blood.

The keto diet plan may also cause side effects. In particular, at the start of the diet, when glucose levels drop, some people may have symptoms of “keto-flu,” such as:

• Irritability
• Weakness
• Headache
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Constipation

A very low carbohydrate diet may also lead to low mood, fatigue, and “brain fog.” In addition, following the keto diet long-term can increase your risk of:

• Nutrient deficiencies
• Osteoporosis
• Kidney stones
• Gout
• Heart disease
• Muscle loss
• Cognitive decline

It’s also important to note that dieting, especially restrictive diets like keto, can potentially lead to psychological distress. This stress can sometimes promote disordered eating behaviors, such as extreme food focus, guilt, or unhealthy relationships with food.

Talk to Your Doctor

The bottom line is there’s no research on KetoBod gummies specifically. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re interested in trying out keto gummies or the keto diet. This way, your provider can monitor your health on the diet, help prevent any side effects, and make sure you feel your best.

Your doctor may also suggest you talk with a registered dietitian before trying out the keto diet. Your dietitian can create a diet plan unique to you and your needs. They can make sure you’re getting important nutrients that may be easily left out when cutting your carbohydrate intake.

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Have you tried keto gummies or a keto diet? How was your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.