The Ketogenic diet was originally developed in the early 1900s by doctors treating children with epilepsy. Initially, fasting was used to induce "starvation ketosis," but this was not sustainable. In 1921, the first ketogenic diet for children was created to mimic this state through dietary ketosis.

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After new epilepsy drugs were introduced in the 1930s, the ketogenic diet faded until 1994 when it was rediscovered treating a two-year-old named Charlie for seizures, after unsuccessful attempts with drugs and surgery.

 

Besides epilepsy, preliminary evidence suggests the ketogenic diet may benefit conditions like respiratory failure, certain pediatric cancers, and head trauma.

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Historically, ketogenic diets have been utilized for obesity treatment, but the long-term fasting approach led to significant muscle protein loss. A specialized diet called Protein Sparing Modified Fast, supervised by medical professionals, includes high-quality protein to prevent muscle loss in severe obesity cases.

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Despite its clinical success, ketogenic diets are often criticized when proposed for fat loss, citing concerns like kidney damage or metabolic misconceptions. However, the safety and effectiveness of prolonged ketosis in epileptic children raise questions about the validity of these concerns regarding fat loss ketogenic diets.