The HCG diet involves injections of human chorionic gonadtropin (HCG) and a strict 500-calorie-per-day diet, but the FDA has not approved HCG for weight loss. The diet has been criticized for being inadequate and potentially dangerous, with side effects including blood clots, emotional changes, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Patients should discuss the use of HCG with their doctor.
The HCG diet is a controversial part of HCG weight loss therapy, a process in which the patient receives injections of a hormone called human chorionic gonadtropin (HCG) to reduce weight along with a strict diet. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved HCG for this purpose, and the extremely low-calorie diet prescribed in conjunction with the injections has been criticized by health professionals as inadequate for maintaining health. When considering the dangers of the HCG diet versus its potential benefits, patients should discuss the use of HCG with their primary healthcare provider.
The HCG hormone is normally produced by women during pregnancy, while a manufactured form of the hormone is given to women to aid in conception. Used as a weight loss product in non-pregnant people, HCG is said to mimic the conditions of pregnancy, stimulate the endocrine system to produce hormones, and redeploy the body’s stores of glycogen, fat, and protein to support fetal development. . It should be noted that the FDA along with the National Institutes of Health and the manufacturers of HCG have stated that there is no evidence to support its use for weight loss purposes.
In response to the dangers of the HCG diet, the FDA requires that all HCG packaging and marketing include the statement: “HCG has not been shown to be an effective complementary therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from calorie restriction, causes a more attractive or “normal” distribution of fat, or decreases hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets. «. Other dangers of the HCG diet include the emergence of numerous weight loss clinics that prescribe and administer HCG without having trained medical personnel, as well as the illicit sale of this prescription drug.
In weight loss therapy, HCG is usually given as daily injections over the course of 26 days. As part of the regimen, patients are given a strict 500-calorie-per-day diet to follow that is said to reduce weight by one to three pounds (0.45-0.136 kg) per day. When addressing the dangers of the HCG diet, most health professionals agree that 500 calories per day is insufficient to maintain basic body functions and growth. Such a diet is likely to cause dizziness and irritability, and is difficult for most people to maintain.
Some of the side effects that have been reported in weight loss patients from HCG therapy include blood clots, emotional changes, dizziness, confusion, and depression. A condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which causes swelling of the extremities, pain in the pelvis and abdomen, dyspnea, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea, is one of the documented dangers of the HCG diet. Patients considering using this therapy to treat obesity are urged to discuss the HCG diet with their doctor.
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