Is Keto Diet Gender Biased? Study Shows How Men and Women Respond to Low-Carb Diets Differently

There are endless diets out there promising weight loss, better energy, and a fitter body. Among them, the ketogenic diet, or keto for short, has been one of the most popular in recent years. The idea is simple: cut carbs, eat more fat, and train your body to burn fat for energy instead of sugar. Many people swear by it. But here’s the twist—new research suggests the keto diet doesn’t treat everyone the same. In fact, the study says it might even be “sexist,” as men and women respond very differently to it.

Why Does the Keto Diet Affect Genders Differently?

Researchers at UT Health San Antonio recently published a study titled Sex-specific differences in ketogenic diet responses in mice. The goal was to see how male and female bodies react to the same high-fat, low-carb diet. While the study was done on mice, it points to biological patterns that could explain why men and women have such different experiences with keto.

Here’s the key takeaway:

• Male mice lost weight and saw improvements in blood sugar levels.
• Female mice, on the other hand, gained weight and developed more fat around their livers.

The researchers believe estrogen, the female hormone, plays a big role in how women’s bodies handle the keto diet. Estrogen seems to protect against some of the metabolic effects that keto sets off in men.

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Breaking It Down for You

What does this really mean for people who follow keto? Let’s keep it simple.

• Men might see faster weight loss and better sugar control on keto.
• Women may not see the same benefits and could even experience harmful changes, like fatty liver build-up.
• Hormones matter a lot. Estrogen may be shielding women from some effects, but at the same time, it might also be making the diet less effective for them.

As the lead author of the study, Dr David Gius says, “These results suggest sex specificity alters the effects of a ketogenic diet, with important clinical implications.” In other words, you shouldn’t expect the same results on keto just because a friend or partner is seeing success.

Why This Matters

According to the study, Men typically have more muscle and different fat-burning pathways. Testosterone helps men lose fat fast and build muscle on keto. Meanwhile, women have higher estrogen and a different gut microbiome, which makes losing fat on keto harder. Plus, the female body is tuned for fertility and fat storage, so strict carb-cutting can send confusing signals.

For years, diets have often been studied in men more than women. This study highlights how important it is to look at both sexes separately. A one-size-fits-all approach to dieting can be misleading. What works for your brother or husband might not work the same way for you.

Should Women Avoid Keto?

Not necessarily. The researchers from the study aren’t saying women should never try keto. Instead, they’re urging caution and more research. Everybody is different, and factors like age, lifestyle, and health history can shape how a diet works for you. If a woman is thinking of going on keto, it’s best to do it under medical guidance rather than jumping in based on online advice.

The Bigger Picture

This study also raises a bigger question: how many other diets out there work differently for men and women? Nutrition science has a long way to go in making sure both sexes are studied equally. Until then, people should remember that the “best diet” is usually the one that fits their body, their health, and their long-term goals.

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Conclusion

The keto diet is famous, but it may not be fair. This study shows that men and women don’t respond to it the same way, and hormones like estrogen could be the reason. Instead of seeing diets as one-size-fits-all, we need to understand how our biology shapes the results. The lesson here is simple: listen to your body, and don’t follow a trend just because it works for someone else.