Human Chorionic Gonadotropin And Weight Loss: HCG Hormone Diet Review

Learn if HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, helps promote weight loss and if the HCG diet is safe for you.

What is HCG?

HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced by women in the early pregnancy. HCG is used mainly to stimulate ovulation and to treat infertility in women.

How Does HCG Diet Work?

The HCG diet combines injections or oral drops of the HCG hormone with severe calorie restriction. The typical caloric intake on the HCG diet is 500 calories a day, which is only one-fourth of the standard calorie requirement.

A number of studies suggest that HCG is no more effective than a placebo in promoting weight loss: HCG does not bring about fat redistribution or does it suppress appetite or reduce hunger. Calorie restriction, not HCG injections or supplements, is the reason why the dieters lose weight under the HCG diet.

HCG Diet Dangers and Side Effects

The HCG diet can lead to serious health problems including varian hyperstimulation syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. The side effects of the HCG diet include headache, irritability, fatigue, restlessness, depression, blood clots, and male breast enlargement.

FDA does not approve HCG for weight loss or weight maintenance.

References

• The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity. Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine.
• Human chorionic gonadotrophin and weight loss. Department of Medical Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch.

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