TITLE:
Psychological Factors Influenced by Metabolic Health
AUTHORS:
Angelina MacKewn, Julie Floyd, Todd Sherman, Alison Ellis, Anna Mallory
KEYWORDS:
Metabolic Syndrome, Metabolic Health, Clean Ketogenic Diet, Intermittent Fasting
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.15 No.6,
June
20,
2024
ABSTRACT: Metabolic syndrome is a group of metabolic risk factors that include obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to monitor metabolic and psychological changes after following a strict clean ketogenic diet (CKD) of 20 grams of carbohydrates or an intermittent fasting diet with CKD (IF + CKD). The findings from this study demonstrate that adhering to a CKD over a 30-day period may result in improvements in metabolic health and psychological symptoms. Additionally, participants who use IF + CKD show even more improvement. Forty-seven participants completed a pre and post-test study with body measurements, lab work, and psychological testing. The findings revealed that after a duration of 30 days, both the fasting and the non-fasting groups exhibited improvements in lipid panel ratios, psychological symptoms, physical symptoms, and visceral fat reduction. However, these improvements were significantly greater in the IF + CKD group compared to the non-fasting group. Both groups experienced improvements in anxiety levels, daytime sleepiness, and energy levels, however, well-being only improved for the IF + CKD group.