New ‘keto pill’ mimics weight-loss effects and health benefits of the popular diet without having to give up carbs

Scientists may be one step closer to the ‘holy grail’ of dieting — packing the weight loss effects of the keto diet into a single pill.

The popular high-fat, low-carb diet forces the body into a metabolic state where it burns fat for fuel instead of sugar, credited with causing dramatic weight loss.

Celebrities have long praised the diet. Hairspray actress Ricki Lake, 57, lost 40lbs on the diet in just four months, while Today Show host Al Roker, 71, lost 40lbs in six months by following its strict rules.

But the diet is known for being grueling. Patients must slash carbs to almost zero, giving up bread, pasta, pastries and sweets, while eating meals heavy with meat, eggs and fats.

Now, scientists in California say they may have found a way to trigger the same fat-burning effects with a pill, without forcing people to ditch carbs.

The team has developed an experimental pill, called BL-001, that they say can deliver the bacteria linked to keto directly to the gut.

They argue that the pill shifts the gut microbiome and prompts the body to start burning fat for energy, helping to trigger weight loss and allow people to get the full benefits of the keto diet, without changing their lifestyle.

The experimental pill is still in early trials and, the scientists say, is likely years away from being widely publicly available, but it has already shown promise and has not been linked to any serious side effects.

The keto diet surged in popularity in the late 2010s amid a raft of celebrity endorsements, also including Halle Berry, social media posts and new ‘keto-friendly’ products.

Adherents have claimed it has a wide range of benefits, from weight loss to improved blood sugar management, heart health, reduced inflammation and feeling more alert.

But doctors have warned that those on the diet may also be at higher risk of disordered eating, nutritional deficiencies because they are not eating a wide range of foods, and heart disease and kidney problems due to high levels of saturated fat.

Many experts urge people to only follow keto for a limited period of time, rather than remain permanently on the diet.

About 13 million Americans follow the keto diet today, estimates suggest.

The new pill, developed by Bloom Science, is already showing promise in early trials.

In a Phase 1 trial, first revealed in March 2025, a total of 24 healthy and overweight adults took the pill once a day while another eight received a placebo. It was double-blind, meaning the participants and scientists did not know who was receiving the pill.

After 28 days, scientists found that participants had lost weight, while no safety concerns were reported.

In the trial, overweight participants who received the pill lost 2.3 percent of their bodyweight on average compared to those who were healthy or received a placebo.

In one case, a participant lost five percent of their bodyweight.

The scientists also found that 80 percent of patients had maintained their weight loss for at least two weeks after their last dose.

Analysis also confirmed urinary ketones and reduced appetite among participants who received the pill. 

Researchers did not reveal further data from the trial, including the amount of weight lost in pounds or how much weight healthy participants lost.

But the pill is now set to enter Phase 1B trials and be administered to 48 obese adults in Australia who will take the pill once a day for 12 weeks. 

Dr Christopher Reyes, a biophysicist and chief executive officer at Bloom Science, added: ‘While the ketogenic diet has long been known for its therapeutic effects, BL-001’s potential to replicate its benefits in a more tolerable form of daily oral capsules opens exciting possibilities for patients.

‘This validation supports our continued clinical efforts targeting both obesity and Dravet syndrome.’

Dravet syndrome is a rare, lifelong form of genetic epilepsy. About 20,000 people in the US are estimated to suffer from the condition.

There has been research showing the keto diet relieves seizure activity.  

Dr Louis Licamele, a microbiologist and chief development officer of Bloom Science, said: ‘We believe BL-001 represents a groundbreaking approach to obesity treatment, with the potential to address the limitations of existing therapies by offering a safer, naturally inspired, multi-pathway solution.

‘We are excited by the current data and remain dedicated to developing a more patient-friendly alternative to current treatments that can provide sustainable weight loss while improving long-term compliance and outcomes.’