Ketogenic diets that severely restrict carbohydrate intake have been a popular way for many people to shed unwanted weight and help them start to regain control of their health. But there have been questions about the effects of these low carb or very low carbohydrate diets and how they should be administered in a clinical setting.

This year’s College of Health Sciences Foltyn Seminar on April 9 at the University of Delaware STAR Campus will feature the latest scientific evidence about low-carb diets and expert guidance from the National Lipid Association (NLA). Carol Fitzpatrick, a registered dietitian and part of the National Lipid Association Nutrition and Lifestyle Task Force, will present key recommendations from the NLA scientific statement as well as evidence for the effects on cardiometabolic risk factors.

The Foltyn Seminar will be held Thursday, April 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Audion at the Tower at STAR. 

Historically, low carbohydrate and very low carb diets have been used for weight loss, but in recent years they have also been promoted for type 2 diabetes management. Concerns about these diets prompted a review by the NLA task force, which issued a scientific statement in 2019 to provide guidance for practicing clinicians. Kirkpatrick, a clinical associate professor at Idaho State University and wellness center director, is the lead author of the scientific statement.

The annual Foltyn seminar is made possible by the generosity of UD alumni Theodore J. Foltyn and Kathi Hetrick Foltyn. The couple established this endowed fund for the purpose of recruiting outstanding speakers in areas including behavioral health, nutrition, wellness and disease prevention.

For more information and to register, please visit: www.udel.edu/006846.