This week while on the internet I came across an article from www.dailymail.co.uk
talking about the latest diet gaining popularity in Britain. The diet is the ketogenic enteral nutrition or KEN diet. The diet works by sending the body into a state of starvation that forces the body to use its own fat for energy. A slow infusion of protein generates ketosis. The diet was started by Prof. Gianfranco Cappello, an associate professor of general surgery at the University of Rome’s La Sapienza hospital. The diet is very popular in Italy. There are 14 KEN centers in Italy and the diet has been used on over 33,000 people. Dr. Ray Shidrawi, a consultant physician and gastroenterologist for Homerton University Hospital NHS FoundationTrust in London is promoting the KEN diet. Dr. Shidrawi works with Wight Management Systems Ltd, a London based company that introduced the KEN diet to the UK and believes the KEN diet is the future for weight loss in the UK. No foods are allowed to be eaten on the KEN diet. To receive nutrients a small plastic tube is inserted up with nose. Two liters of a special liquid formula are dripped down into the stomach over 24 hours. An electric pump is used to hold formula and control the release rate. With the exception of carrying around a pump, a person can go about their normal daily activities. One hour of being disconnected from the pump is allowed for activities such as showering. Water and plain coffee or tea are allowed at any time. The KEN diet lasts 10 days. Four to nine percent of total body weight loss is expected per cycle. Multiple cycles can be done if a person wants to lose more weight. It is recommended that there should be 10 days off between each cycle. A healthy diet of regular food should be eaten in between the cycles. In the UK each cycle costs about $550 plus a refundable deposit of $470 for use of the pump. Dr. Shidrawi says the KEN diet is safe and is meant to be used for a limited time. The only people who should avoid the diet are those with kidney failure or an allergy to milk proteins. On the diet there is supposed to be no loss of muscle or hunger. Daily urine tests are done to monitor ketone levels. Some side effects are constipation due to the lack of fiber and feeling very tired. Laxatives are given to help with the constipation. The British Dietetic Association says that more evidence is needed showing the KEN diet is safe. Eleanor Donaldson, a National Health Service Dietitian says that a potential danger with the diet is that if the tube becomes dislodged then food could go into the lungs. She also notes that drastic weight lose is not good for the body. A spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association Helen Bond, RD agrees that weight should be lost slowly at a rate of 1-2 pounds per week. She believes the KEN diet is just the latest in fad diets. In order for long term weight loss success psychological and emotional reasons for over eating need to be addressed and the KEN diet does not do that. In the UK 60 patients have tried the KEN diet. With the diet’s popularity in Italy and now the interest in the UK, it will be interesting to see if KEN clinics will start to show up in the US. Dr. Shidrawi’s websites: http://www.shidrawi.co.uk/Weight-Loss http://www.weightmanagementsystems.co.uk Prof Gianfranco Cappello’s website: http://www.gianfranco-cappello.it/eindex2.html Articles on the KEN diet: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2110165/Ketogenic-Enteral-Nutrition-diet-NHS-specialist-recommends-fed-drip-lose-weight.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/wellbeing/8711645/Would-you-choose-the-drip-fed-diet-to-lose-weight.html
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AuthorHello! My name is Kimberly Rogers and I am a Dietetics student at Kansas State University. ArchivesCategories |