An HCG diet is a protocol based on a theory from a British endocrinologist, A.T.W. Simeons, developed in the 1950s. Simeons was in India working with obese patients. He found that a pregnancy hormone, HCG, helps eliminate a ravenous appetite and also redistributes fat. Along with a very low calorie diet, HCG may help promote dramatic, rapid weight loss.
About An HCG Diet
One key component to an HCG diet is taking in very few calories. For approximately three to seven weeks, dieters are encouraged to consume only 500 to 550 calories, which is not even half of the number of calories suggested for healthy adults. Taking prescription or over-the-counter HCG, known as human chorionic gonadotropin, according to Simeons, could prevent hunger pangs and trigger your body to used stored fat for energy.
Calorie Restriction
Very few diets are successful without a calorie-restricting component. In 2009, a study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine," found that limiting calories, rather than limiting carbs, proteins or fats, helps promote weight loss. In the study, volunteers were assigned to follow one of four diets, each emphasizing different combinations of the macronutrients. After two years, participants lost roughly the same amount of weight and experienced a similar decrease in waist size, which demonstrated to the study authors that calorie restriction leads to weight loss.
HCG
Attempting to lose a lot of weight with HCG alone won't work. In pregnant women, HCG triggers hormones to deflect nutrients toward the fetus. It's also one of several hormones responsible for redistributing the mother's fat. It was these characteristics that drew Simeon's attention to HCG for weight loss. When it comes to his diet protocol, however, HCG plays a very small role in actual weight loss. And if you listen to the Food and Drug Administration, HCGs role is even less significant. According to fraud investigator, Elizabeth Miller, there's no evidence that supplemental HCG has any weight loss properties at all.
Risks
Eating a high-calorie diet can cause weight gain and obesity. Risks include an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. High calorie diets are also more likely to be high in other unhealthy ingredients like saturated and trans fats, cholesterol and sodium, all of which can lead to a variety of serious health complications. When it comes to losing weight, the healthiest method is one that involves controlling your calorie intake. Using a hormone like HCG, according to Dr. Pieter Cohen, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, may just give you the illusion that you're doing something about your weight. In actuality, it's no better than using a placebo.
References
- "The New York Times:" Study Zeroes in on Calories, Not Diet, For Loss; February 2009
- New York Times: Diet Plan With Hormone Has Fans and Skeptics; March 2011
- MedlinePlus: Tips for Losing Weight
- HCG Diet Info: "Pounds & Inches" by A.T.W. Simeons
- USAToday.com: HCG Weight Loss Products are Fraudulent, FDA Says
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