The HCG Diet Craze

Anyone who has ever been on a diet – and that includes many of us – knows that there are sensible ways to lose weight.  These include a balanced diet, exercise, and setting realistic goals.  In the world of weight loss supplements and so-called “quick fixes”, the HCG diet is the king – especially when it comes to “fad diets” that promise way more than they deliver.  Products that claim to contain HCG are typically marketed in connection with a very low-calorie diet, usually around 500 calories per day.  Many of these products claim to “reset your metabolism”, change “abnormal eating patterns,” and shave 20-30 pounds in 30-40 days.

HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – which is a hormone extracted from the placenta and urine of pregnant women.  It’s only approved use is to treat infertility in women, and a few other select medical conditions.  It is NOT approved for weight loss.  In fact, the prescription drug label now must state that “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.”

In the United States, HCG weight loss products sold over-the-counter are now illegal.  The HCG Diet Plan was basically labeled a “health care fraud” by the FDA.  But what about getting prescription HCG from a doctor?  The FDA still cautions that “HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity.”  Again, any weight loss that people experience on the HCG diet plan is due to the very low calories consumed.

In fact, nutritionists and health experts around the country agree that such restrictive diets combined with unregulated HCG weight loss products can be risky.  Dr. Michael Kaplan, founder and Chief Medical Officer of The Center for Medical Weight Loss states, “Following a 500-calorie-a-day diet is extremely unhealthy because it cannot possibly provide the nutrition and energy needed for even the most basic bodily functions.  Such a low-calorie plan also triggers the body’s starvation response, which slows the metabolism and forces muscle and water loss instead of fat loss.”

Extremely restrictive diets that put one’s health in jeopardy are never a wise choice and often end in rebound weight gain as soon as the dieter stops the program.  For long term success, the safest and most reliable approach is to focus on changing the behaviors that led to the weight gain in the first place.  Also, with the assistance of weight loss professionals that use FDA approved weight loss medications, as well as an approach to eating that will get your body burning excess fat, you will achieve New Results, and you will end up looking and feeling great!