Weight loss fad diets abound, making claims of rapid fat loss. A diet using human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is one such fad, originating 50 years ago as a rapid weight loss option for obesity. The question of whether HCG use leads to weight loss success is not easily answered, especially with a half-century of controversy about its use. Before riding on the HCG bandwagon, identify your weight loss goals and learn the facts about HCG by talking to your physician.
FDA-Approved -- But Not for Dieting
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not approve the use of HCG as a weight loss medication. Its only approved uses are as a fertility drug, to promote ovulation in women or to increase sperm count in men; it's also used in young boys, for testicles that do not properly drop into the scrotum. The HCG hormone is produced naturally in pregnant women to support the development of the growing fetus. A prescription for HCG is required to get the medication as a fertility drug or for "off-label" use as a weight loss aid. Non-prescription versions of HCG are marketed as natural over-the-counter supplements that may or may not actually live up to the intended claims for use.
Calorie Restriction, HCG and Weight Loss
The original diet plan referred to as the Simeons method, named after the doctor who first used it, involves combining injections of HCG with a rigid 500-calorie-per-day eating plan. By medical standards, extreme calorie restriction inevitably results in weight loss. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., notes that with such a severe cut in calories, you increase your risk of medical complications from malnutrition and gallstones, not to mention the HCG side effects of headache, fatigue and irritability.
Research on Success
According to the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, the combined use of HCG and a very restricted calorie diet is not supported by the majority of medical literature, and most research reports are critical of the use of this hormone for weight loss. In a 2009 position statement, the ASBP further declines to support the use of HCG for weight loss. Conversely, a 2009 study by Dr. Daniel Belluscio and colleagues, published in "The Original Internist," concluded that female obese volunteers participating in a double blind study to measure successful weight loss with use of oral HCG and a very low calorie diet compared to placebo, successfully achieved weight loss. However, the authors note the study contradicts the conclusions of previous research.
Precautions
If you choose to use HCG as part of a weight loss diet, do so under the direction of your physician. Over-the-counter HCG supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may be harmful to your health. Restricting your calorie intake lower than 1,200 per day without medical supervision may also cause significant health complications, including lack of energy, headache, low blood pressure and nutrient deficiency. Safe and long-term weight loss involves a well-balanced diet that includes getting the calories you need to function, without overeating.
References
- American Society of Bariatric Physicians; Use of HCG in the Treatment of Obesity; December 2009
- "U.S. News and World Report"; HCG Diet Dangers; Is Fast Weight Loss Worth The Risk; Angela Haupt; March 14, 2011
- "The Original Internist"; Utility of an Oral Presentation of HCG (Human Choriogonadotropin) For the Management of Obesity; A Double Blind Study; Daniel Oscar Belluscio, M.D. et al; December 2009
- MayoClinic.com; HCG Diet; Is it Safe and Effective?; Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D.; 2010
- American Heart Association: Know How Many Calories You Should Eat
- Drugs.com: HCG Information
Member Comments