The quest for effective weight loss solutions has led many to explore various diets and supplements, with the HCG diet being one that has garnered significant attention. This article delves into the HCG diet, examining its claims, potential risks, and the scientific evidence surrounding its effectiveness and safety.
What is the HCG Diet?
The HCG diet involves the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, in combination with a severely restrictive, very low-calorie diet (VLCD), typically limiting calorie intake to around 500 calories per day. HCG is a hormone your body normally makes. However, during pregnancy, the placenta makes HCG in large amounts. So, hCG is what pregnancy tests measure to find out whether someone is pregnant.
History of the HCG Diet
The HCG diet was introduced in 1954 by British doctor Albert T. W. Simeons, who developed the idea after treating young boys with Fröhlich syndrome, a rare hormonal disorder that causes obesity. In 1971, Simeons published a book about the diet, titled Pounds & Inches: A New Approach to Obesity. Thanks to renewed attention on the Internet, the hCG diet surged in popularity in 2009.
How the HCG Diet Works
The HCG diet typically involves three phases:
- Loading phase: During this phase, you eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and prepare your body for weight loss. At the same time, you take HCG through an injection, tablet, or other form. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks.
- Weight loss phase: This phase involves continuing to take HCG while adhering to a very low-calorie diet, usually around 500 calories per day. The diet typically consists of two meals a day, each including one protein, one vegetable, one bread, and one fruit.
- Maintenance phase: You stop taking HCG and eat a well-balanced diet and exercise. The goal in this phase is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term.
Dietary Restrictions and Preferences
While the HCG diet allows for a variety of foods, the extremely low-calorie count can make it challenging for individuals with specific dietary needs to follow. During the weight loss phase, the diet requires the consumption of protein from animal sources such as chicken, beef, fish, and eggs, which may pose a problem for vegetarians and vegans. Gluten-free options are available for the loading and maintenance phases.
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Safety Concerns and Potential Risks
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved HCG for weight loss and warns against its use. Claims about the weight loss benefits of the HCG diet are not proven. Taking HCG while drastically cutting calories may cause more harm than benefit. The HCG diet is not safe, and it doesn't lead to long-term weight loss.
Potential Risks of HCG Injections
HCG injections for other medical uses are linked to problems such as:
- Allergic reactions
- Mood changes
- Acne
- Facial hair growth
- Headache
- Swelling of the breasts, penis, or testes
- Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach
- Pelvic pain
- Bloating
Potential Side Effects of Extreme Calorie-Restricted Diets
It's very hard to stick to a strict calorie limit. Not only is it uncomfortable to live on just 500 calories a day, but it can also be dangerous. It’s impossible to meet all your nutritional needs on so few calories. Consuming less than 1,200 calories a day makes it tough to get enough vitamins and minerals without taking supplements. People who follow very restrictive diets like this one are at risk for:
- Gallstones
- An imbalance of the electrolytes that help your muscles and nerves work
- Abnormal heartbeat
The hCG diet also contains less protein than experts recommend you get each day. Its recommended protein intake is 30-50 grams, which is typically less than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.36 grams per pound of body weight.
FDA's Stance on HCG
Since 1975, The Food and Drug Administration has considered the use of HCG for weight loss to be fraudulent and requires labels for HCG to state:
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- HCG has no known effect on fat mobilization, appetite or sense of hunter, or body fat distribution.
- HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity.
- There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it cases a more attractive or “normal” distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.
The Federal Trade Commission's Action
In 1976, The Federal Trade Commission ordered the Simeon Management Corporation, Simeon Weight Clinics Foundation, Bariatrics Management Corporation, C.M. Although the order did not stop the clinics from using HCG, it required that patients who contract for the treatment be informed in writing that:
- These weight reduction treatments include the injection of HCG, a drug which has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective in the treatment of obesity or weight control.
- 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.
American Society of Bariatric Physicians' Opinion
In 2009, The American Society of Bariatric Physicians issued a position statement which stated:
- Numerous clinical trials have shown HCG to be ineffectual in producing weight loss.
- HCG injections can induce a slight increase in muscle mass in androgen-deficient males.
- The diet used in the Simeons method provides a lower protein intake than is advisable in view of current knowledge and practice.
- There are few medical literature reports favorable to the Simeons method; the overwhelming majority of medical reports are critical of it.
- Physicians employing either the HCG or the diet recommended by Simeons may expose themselves to criticism from other physicians, from insurers, or from government bodies.
Case study
A 64-year-old white female presented with leg swelling and shortness of breath. Lower extremity ultrasound revealed left leg DVT, and a computed tomography angiogram revealed bilateral pulmonary embolisms. A complete history and physical examination were unremarkable for any risk factors for acute thrombosis, with the exception of the initiation of the HCG diet approximately 2 weeks prior to presentation; the patient was taking 20 sublingual drops of HCG twice daily. Results of her hypercoagulable workup were negative. Upon admission, therapy was started with enoxaparin 120 mg subcutaneously twice daily and warfarin 5 mg orally once daily. The HCG diet has very few efficacy studies and no significant safety studies associated with its use.
Scientific Evidence and Studies
Many studies have tested the effectiveness of the hCG diet ever since Simeons introduced it. A 1995 analysis of 24 studies found no evidence that this diet helps reduce hunger, promote weight loss, or trim fat from areas like the hips and thighs. Other research found that placebo, or fake injections, worked just as well as hCG injections for treating obesity. Due to the lack of evidence, the American Society of Bariatric Physicians recommends against using the hCG diet for weight loss.
A meta-analysis of eight controlled and 16 uncontrolled trials that measured the effect of HCG in the treatment of obesity shows no benefit to using HCG. It was concluded that there is no scientific evidence that HCG is effective in the treatment of obesity; it does not bring about weight-loss of fat-redistribution, nor does it reduce hunger or induce a feeling of well-being.
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Safer Alternatives for Weight Loss
If weight loss is your goal, choose safer ways to lose weight. Talk with your healthcare professional about making healthy changes that lead to lasting weight loss. There are safer ways to lose weight that don't require supplements or highly restrictive diets.
Consulting a Registered Dietitian
It is advisable that anyone who’s considering the HCG diet see a registered dietitian instead. They can help you find a plan that could work for you.
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. That's a better route to take than a dangerous short-term fix.