The desire to shed pounds quickly is a common one, driven by various factors such as fitting into clothes for an event or addressing health concerns like obesity hypoventilation syndrome. While slow, sustainable weight loss is generally recommended, some individuals seek rapid results, aiming to lose one to two pounds a day. This has led to the popularity of diets like the HCG diet, which promises rapid weight loss. However, it's crucial to examine the safety and effectiveness of such approaches.
Understanding the HCG Diet
To understand the HCG diet, it's essential to first understand human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is a hormone present in everyone, but it is produced in large quantities by the placenta during pregnancy. It supports the healthy growth of the uterus and fetus. HCG levels are tested for when you take a pregnancy test. Synthetic HCG has legitimate medical uses, primarily related to fertility issues and hormonal imbalances. However, dieting is not one of them.
The HCG diet involves two main components: taking an HCG hormone supplement and restricting food intake to around 500 calories a day. The theory behind the HCG diet is that HCG supports rapid weight loss by targeting cravings, encouraging fat burning, and protecting against muscle loss resulting from a metabolic slowdown. In essence, it involves starving oneself while taking supplemental hormones to counteract the negative effects of extreme calorie restriction.
The Claimed Benefits of the HCG Diet
Proponents of the HCG diet claim that it boosts metabolism and helps you lose large amounts of fat without feeling hungry. Some claim that it only causes fat loss, not muscle loss, elevates other hormones, and leads to a growth-promoting state. The HCG diet promises fast weight loss of 1-2 pounds (0.5-1 kg) per day without hunger.
The Reality: Lack of Scientific Evidence
Despite these claims, the HCG diet is not a safe or legitimate way to lose weight. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved HCG for weight loss purposes and has issued warnings about its dangers. The FDA is unequivocal: “Any loss is from severe calorie restriction. Not from the HCG.”
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Multiple studies have concluded that weight loss achieved by the HCG diet is due to ultra-low-calorie intake alone and has nothing to do with the HCG hormone. Studies comparing the effects of HCG and placebo injections given to individuals on a calorie-restricted diet found that weight loss was identical or nearly identical between the two groups. Furthermore, these studies determined that the HCG hormone didn’t significantly reduce hunger.
The Dangers and Risks of the HCG Diet
Health Risks
The FDA warns against using HCG weight-loss products. There's no proof that HCG weight-loss products alone help you lose weight. Any weight loss likely comes from getting very few calories as part of the HCG diet. People who follow diets so low in calories are likely to lose weight in the short term.
The HCG diet is a starvation-level calorie intake, which is almost guaranteed to make people feel miserable. In one 2014 case study, a 64-year-old woman was on the HCG diet when blood clots developed in her leg and lungs. It was determined that the diet likely caused the clots and other side effects.
Setting aside the fact that HCG isn’t approved for use without a prescription - and isn’t approved for weight loss of any kind - there are two major reasons to avoid this trend:
Manipulating your hormones can do serious (and potentially long-lasting) harm.
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Extreme calorie restriction is a dangerous and disordered dieting technique.
Side Effects of HCG Supplementation
HCG is a legitimate medication when prescribed to treat certain hormonal imbalances. But it’s never appropriate to take it for weight loss. Side effects from HCG supplementation include:
- Allergic reactions: If you’re allergic to an ingredient in HCG, you could experience a wide range of allergic reactions, including rashes, itching, hives, breathing problems, dizziness and swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
- Skin and hair changes: People who inject HCG sometimes experience pain or irritation at the injection site. The sudden influx of new hormones can also cause acne and facial hair growth, along with other signs of puberty like voice changes.
- Changes in your mental health: Hormone changes can mess with your emotions and moods causing issues like irritability, fatigue, restlessness and depression.
- Reproductive concerns: You can experience painful swelling and enlargement of breasts and genitals while taking HCG. You also may experience pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding.
- Gastrointestinal issues: Those taking HCG may experience nausea, vomiting, bloating or indigestion.
- Urinary tract issues: You may find that you pee less, meaning that you’re passing less urine and peeing less often. That can potentially lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other complications.
- Other body changes: You may notice a sudden increase in height while taking HCG. But you may also notice a sudden increase in your weight. That’s right, the medication that’s supposedly going to help you shed pounds fast could actually be interfering with weight loss. It could be the result of fluid buildup (edema), which is a common side effect that’s particularly noticeable in the legs, hands and feet.
In rare cases, women taking HCG have developed a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is usually a complication only seen during IVF treatment. While OHSS is usually mild, it can be life-threatening in certain situations. HCG supplementation also raises your risk of developing or throwing a blood clot (venous thromboembolism) - another potentially deadly side effect.
Some studies have linked the use of HCG for weight loss to an increased risk for certain cancers. The theory is that HCG encourages the growth of androgen cells, which could result in the growth of certain types of cancers.
Side Effects of Extreme Calorie Restriction
Limiting your daily caloric intake to 500 calories every day is a disordered eating pattern. Extreme low-calorie diets are risky and can cause minor side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation and fatigue. Over time, you can experience electrolyte imbalances, irregular heartbeat, nutritional deficiencies and more.
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Our bodies are designed to protect us from starvation. When we restrict our calories to an unhealthy level, it’s going to do everything in its power to hold onto its fat stores. And when your caloric intake goes up, your weight will, too. And quickly.
Extreme weight loss doesn’t work in the long term. You regain the weight - and you might even add to it.
The HCG Diet Protocol
The hCG diet is usually divided into three phases:
- Loading phase: Start taking hCG and eat plenty of high fat, high calorie foods for 2 days.
- Weight loss phase: Continue taking hCG and eat only 500 calories per day for 3 to 6 weeks.
- Maintenance phase: Stop taking hCG. Gradually increase your food intake but avoid sugar and starch for 3 weeks.
During the weight loss phase, you’re only allowed to eat two meals per day - usually lunch and dinner. hCG meal plans generally suggest that each meal should contain: one portion of lean protein, a vegetable, a piece of bread, and a serving of fruit. Butter, oils, and sugar should be avoided, but you’re encouraged to drink a lot of water.
Homeopathic HCG Products
Most of the hCG products on the market today are labeled as homeopathic. Homeopathic, over-the-counter (OTC) products don’t contain any actual hCG. Real hCG, in the form of injections, is administered as a fertility drug or hormone treatment. It’s available only through a doctor’s prescription. Only injections can raise blood levels of hCG, not homeopathic products sold online. The FDA has questioned the safety of the hCG diet as well as OTC hCG products. These products are unregulated, and they contain unknown ingredients. As a result, they should be avoided.
What Experts Say About HCG
The Food and Drug Administration, The Federal Trade Commission, and The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery all share the same stance: HCG does not result in weight loss. There is no substantial evidence that HCG increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or “normal” distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.
Safer Alternatives for Weight Loss
If you’re considering the HCG diet, it’s best to see a registered dietitian instead. They can help you find a plan that could work for you. Speak with your healthcare provider about your weight loss goals. There are several options that are safe and can produce positive results, from specialized (and dietitian-supervised) eating plans like the protein-sparing modified fast (PSMF) to medical interventions.
There are phenomenal weight loss medications that have been studied and are available by prescription. Your doctor can prescribe them if it’s medically appropriate and something you want to try. Quick fixes don’t fix anything.