HCG “Diet” Back in the News: Weight-loss Scams and Trends
Heather Calcote, Guest Blogger
Using injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone for weight-loss first rose to popularity in the 1950s. British endocrinologist, Dr. Albert T. Simeon, proprosed a weight loss plan that involved a very low-calorie diet (~500 calories/day) and HCG injections that would “help break down fat stores, increase metabolism and promote weight loss and satiety on an extremely low-calorie diet”. By 1975, the FDA took action. They required all marketing and advertising of HCG to state the following:
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 causes a more attractive or “normal” distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.
Source: http://www.dietscam.org/reports/hcg.
Recently, this diet has re-entered the weight-loss circiut thanks to Kevin Trudeau’s book titled “The Weight-Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About”. Despite having no medical or nutritional credentials, he outlines and recommends the restrictive HCG diet. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this method and the injections have not been approved by the FDA for use in weight loss.
For more information, I’ve answered a few basic questions about this hormone and the interest it has generated!
What is HCG?
Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone is produced during pregnancy by the cells that form the placenta. It is detected in the blood around 11 days after conception, and in the urine around 12-14 days posst-conception. While it is most commonly associated with pregnancy, it is present in both genders.
What is the claim?
Weight-loss related claims surrounding this hormone typically state that daily injections will help you loss 1-3 pounds per day, through fat mobilization. The “diet plan” includes these injections in combination with a very low-calorie intake (500 calories per day).
What does it really do in the body?
HCG signals the hypothalamus to mobilize fat stores. In pregnancy, this helps the body bring nutrients into the placenta to fuel the fetus with energy to grow and develop.
Is it banned in any sports?
The HCG hormone was recently added to the list of “banned substances” in Major League Baseball; it was becoming increasingly popular among steroid users. Athletes turned to this, among other “performance enhancing drugs”, because it “mitigates the side effects of ending a cycle of steroids.”
According to Ruth Wood, an expert in steroid use at the University of Southern California, “They use (HCG) to essentially jump start testosterone production.”
Source: HCG popular among steroid users, has other uses
Are there any negative side effects of this hormone/drug?
The common side effects can include headaches, mood swings and depression.
More severe side effects can include the following: blood clots, confusion, and dizziness. Some women may also develop Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS); symptoms of this include pelvic pain, swlling of the hands and legs, stomach pain, weight gain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, vomiting/diarrhea/nausea, and/0r urinating less than normal. This can be a life-threatening condition, contact a physician as soon as possible if you experience any of those symptoms.
Source: www.drugs.com/hcg/html
Tags: dieting, HCG, weight loss
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Aug 06, 2009
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weight loss.you see these miracles only work if you read the fine print that tells you to exercise.it’s really not what you’re taking that cause the weight loss.if you ever noticed how firm and toned fat to skinny girls are on the ads you’d realize no pill will do that.Weight watchers however is not a scam.but,when you put diets aganist -i.d no contest.
Jun 06, 2010
You obviously did not read the fine print on the HCG diet it states in there DO NOT exercise or any other activity you did not do before you started the treatments
Oct 09, 2009
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The overall rate of winner of these weight loss platforms which are perpetually contending with each other is more or less the identical. And the most humorous part is that these programs all expire at the identical vault in spite of making really tall claims. This passes because the body gets habituated to the hardship through which it is invest and corrects itself to the new routine and the metabolic process slows down. You have to be cleverer than nature to be able to illusion the body into losing weight. Without favorable this step then you will constantly wonder why you cannot fall back weight unit.
Oct 15, 2009
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Good tips.
Jan 29, 2010
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Feb 27, 2010
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You look thinner. Great job, keep up the good work! =)
Mar 22, 2010
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i would like to hear more on this topic please
Apr 13, 2010
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A lot of people to post affiliate links for certain products. They get a percentage every time someone buys something through there link.
Apr 25, 2010
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I thought I was eating healthy because I had all these healthy antioxidant foods like raisins, dried blueberries, strawberries, spinach, acai berry juice, etc. All of these are powerful antioxidants but I forgot that they’re still sugar. I’ve been gaining weight ever since. So even the so called healthy stuff like fruits have so much sugar in them. They all need to be avoided even fruits.
Apr 25, 2010
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Interesting post :)Bookmarked it! I would like to see more advice about this subject
May 07, 2010
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Cheers for the excellent article, do you mind if I quote it on my website? I’ll make sure I a link back.thanks
May 13, 2010
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I’ve been making an attempt to drop a few pounds for years. It is at all times an up and down struggle. I take 2 steps ahead and four backwards. I by no means appear to make much progress. I will start a diet, do nicely for awhile, then go back to my old habits. I do it time and time again. Effectively, I am completely satisfied to say that because of websites like yours I been in a position to lose 47 pounds to this point! You articles hold me motivated. Everyday I attempt to read on something new to maintain my excitement and continue going ahead. Thank you so much for you help!
May 15, 2010
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I definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work.
May 15, 2010
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I will have to look into this calorie shifting some more.
May 25, 2010
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adore miley! she is so crazy!
Jun 16, 2010
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That is very interesting. It presented me a few ideas and I’ll be writing them on my website shortly. I’m bookmarking your site and I’ll be back again. Thanks again!
Jul 04, 2010
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I have frequented your posts before. The more I read, the more I keep coming back!
Jul 09, 2010
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I very much liked reading your site. Awesome content. Please continue posting such awesome cotent.
Jul 22, 2010
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intruiging article.. I like your take on this subject. Although there are a couple points I disagree on I believe you did a good job purposing your thought. Thanks…
Jul 28, 2010
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Curious how many unplanned pregnancies occur because of the misuse (diet use) of this fertility drug. Nothing will get a woman bigger, and faster, than pregnancy. What precautions do women take? Do the men they sleep with know they could fall pregnant much more easily? That would be my concern regarding side effects, aside from OHSS which could kill a woman, will this diet get me pregnant.
Aug 11, 2010
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the hcg diet is the most ridiculous diet I’ve ever heard of in my life. Ya sure u may see results as long as u follow it perfectly and to the letter, but u most don’t realize until it’s too late is the terrible damage it can do to your body. U should never mess with hormones like that, not to mention only 500 calories a day is NOT ENOUGH for body function. Your body needs calories to burn calories properly and PERMANANTLY. Otherwise, like many who’ve done this silly diet have found later…u gain it all back and then some. And many have come out dealing with eating disorders as a result of not learning how to eat properly. And furthermore this Dr. actually suggests and beleives that something as seriouse as compulsive eating is due to a lack of sexual gratification. What a load of BS. What a quack all together I say. I know how hard it is to loose weight. I suffer from PCOS and infertility disorder, and that makes everything about loosing weight 10x harder than normal. But the answer never ever lies in some crazy fad diet, or diet in general. It’s about a whole lifestyle change, proper excersise routines and learning how to eat right every day! The process is suppose to be slow and take time. U didn’t wake up fat one day, don’t expect to wake up skinny one day. The whole point to loosing weight is suppose to be to get healthy and stay healthy, no crazy diet will ever get u there. just be positive, patient and keep working on it. The results WILL come!! And when u do it right they WILL STAY!!
Aug 14, 2010
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This article really sums up the HCG diet. Use of the natural HCG hormone in the HCG diet makes it very different from other weight loss programs on the market. Eating 500 calories per day seems intimidating at first but becomes less cumbersome as the HCG hormone releases your stored fat.