hCG 'Diet' Controversy: Dangerous Diet Or Healthy Hormone Treatment?

The hCG "Diet" has been stirring quite a bit of controversy after Dr. Oz took a closer examination of the already controversial weight-loss program.

While the wildly popular doctor said the treatment requires "further examination," many doctors don't approve. However, some dieters disagree.

The program, which has dieters consume less than 500 calories per day, is supplemented by "daily shots of a hormone produced by pregnant women called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)."

But the question of whether it works or not has raised a lot of questions about the "diet." While hCG proponents claim to lose up to 30 pounds in a single month, those results aren't unexpected on such a restricted diet.

One variation of the hCG diet, involving homeopathic supplements, has reportedly been dismissed as illegal and fraudulent by the FDA. Elizabeth Miller, who leads the agency's Internet and health fraud team, tells USA Today that even if not dangerous, the products are, at minimum, "economic fraud."

From Dr. Oz's Website:

What about the hCG injections -- doesn't that make the diet more effective? No. Promoters of the hCG diet claim that when people are injected with hCG hormone they don't feel hungry even though they're not eating. The idea of using hCG injections to curb appetite was introduced over 50 years ago and has been carefully studied in over a dozen well-done trials. Every single well-done trial showed that the hCG injections were no better than injecting a salt-water placebo. In other words, people injected with hCG lost the same amount of weight as people injected with a salt-water placebo.

According to Dr. Oz, the shots don't even make the restricted diet any safer.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story indicated that the FDA deemed hCG shots illegal and fraudulent. It has been updated to reflect that only certain over-the-counter hCG products have been deemed illegal and fraudulent, as reported here. There are approved prescription uses for hCG, including as a treatment for infertility.

Comments

[Hcg Plan]

09:51 AM on 04/22/2011

You don't need to take expensive shots to do the hcg diet. You can use the drops for about 30 dollars. The media runs stories about this diet saying it won't work. However everyone who I know that uses this diet, including myself... is losing weight. Since doing this diet I now try to help others get the same results I have.
You can read more about me and see other success stories on my site. We also offer education about the diet, over 100 recipes and much more at www.hcgplan.net.

[Alfheim]

02:37 PM on 04/20/2011

Isn't HCG what the fringe anti-vax crowd claims is in secreted into vaccines as a covert conspiracy to sterilize American teens?

[William Anderson LMHC]

09:54 AM on 04/10/2011

For people who have lost faith in themselves and their ability to succeed at self-control with food there is an irresistible attraction to magic cures. The incredibly punishing experience of failing time and time again at self-control has shown them that it is impossible to do what they know they must do to control their weight. Now, if some new magic pill or shot like "HCG" actually worked, they could again believe they might now be able to solve their weight problem. Hope springs anew. They are easy suckers who will pay anything for the chance at happiness, and these hucksters, even though they are doctors and legitimate sounding businesses, should be ashamed of themselves for preying upon trusting souls. Real helpers will lead them to a real solution instead of tricking them. Anyone who eats 500 calories per day is going to drop weight very quickly. So what? They need to learn how to lose weight and keep it off, not how to use a fad diet for a while. Read "The Anderson Method" to learn how to make permanent changes and lose weight permanently. I am the psychotherapist who discovered Therapeutic Psychogenics when I solve my lifetime weight problem, losing 140 lbs. 25 years ago, and I have kept it off since. Get more info about my work at www.TheAndersonMethod.com .

[Hcg Plan]

10:18 PM on 03/28/2011

I can't speak for others but the HCG Diet worked for me. While I believe you should always consult a doctor before any diet you should check out my site. We show you everything there is to know about the HCG Diet and offer over 100 recipes for this diet. www.hcgplan.net

[danny4u]

03:52 PM on 03/18/2011

I never heard about hCG diet. I know about something, please read here. Motivation is key, both for losing and keeping weight. I know a healthy diet solution plan that helps to lose those inches and keep it. It works. It is reviewed on http://diet.topwebreview.com

[AllAmericanAmericanBoy]

12:21 AM on 03/18/2011

South Bronx Parasite baby.

Karl "That part don't matter"
Aqua Teen Hunger Force

[IMDATRAINER]

08:03 PM on 03/17/2011

This is not a DIET! It's horrnone therapy coupled with an anorexic eating plan!

http://www.angrytrainerfitness.com/2011/03/the-hcg-diet-does-it-really-work/

[Stryker00]

07:24 PM on 03/13/2011

This isn't some easy, quick fix. This diet demands extreme discipline - if you cheat, you don't lose the weight! Everyone that has a negative opinion of this diet has one thing in common --- THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ON THIS DIET!!! Those that have that didn't have success - I can bet you cheated the whole time! I have had a terrible time losing weight and I don't eat that much and I have healthy habits - I hate soft drinks, I don't drink alcohol, never smoked, not a sweet-tooth addict, not big on fried food (makes me sick) - and I still continue to be overweight. The HCG diet has been a God-send for me.... but there was nothing easy about it. Plus even when I did lose weight - it was impossible for me to lose from trouble spots like my hips and thighs. On this diet - I lost there first!! I've lost 50 pounds and over 20 inches - just measuring my hips, both thighs, chest, and waist... all fat loss, no muscle mass. That is without exercising - you nay-sayers, explain that! Just eating 500 calories a day does not explain the way my body has dropped the weight - and where the weight came from. I worked hard on this diet - it's not a quick fix without discipline - not like a gastric bypass... now that is EXTREME!

[LovingFit]

01:19 AM on 03/13/2011

So as I read the first few sentences of this post, I thought to my self... Hmmm, a diet of less than 500 calories, plus I will get a daily shots of hormones that are produced by pregnant women. Sounds fascinating, I think I should try it... What! Is that absolutely ridiculous or my eyes playing tricks on me. How is that even legal? I think people who come up with these diets, know that they are dangerous, but they also know they can sell a product to people who are vulnerable and desperate to try anything. I think the best nutrition approach is knowing nutrition facts of foods you are eating. I believe that's the key to the long term success in loosing weight. Not some crazy pitch of 500 calories a day. Check out my blog if you are interested in anything fitness.

www.lovingfit.com

[IMDATRAINER]

11:50 AM on 03/03/2011

500 calories per day is absurd. Sure, you'll lose weight- lots of muscle weight, and sink your metabolism into the crapper. You'll feel like garbage, lack essential nutrients needed for daily life support, and may actually increase your fat percentage! When will people learn there are no quick fixes, no pills, shots, or powders. Eat calorically appropriate, nutritous diets and exercise regularly. And the medical establishment should be ashaned of itself for preying on peoples desperation to lose weight. Just sick.

http://www.angrytrainerfitness.com/2011/01/surgery-gone-wild/

http://www.angrytrainerfitness.com/2011/02/the-death-of-the-diet-pill/

[sidsho]

03:33 PM on 03/11/2011

I have done this diet as a weight lifter, to trim off some fat after being laid up from a car accident. I lost the weight, I did not lose any of my mussle mass nor did this affect my strength in any way. I took a multi-vitamin durring the weight loss, and lost 26 lbs over 21 days.

[Douglas Campbell]

04:06 PM on 02/26/2011

The fastest way to lose 10 pounds is to cut off your head.

[Stryker00]

07:27 PM on 03/13/2011

Well that is only a benefit if it is rarely used --- so some bloggers here would never miss theirs - so go for it.

[ChaCubed]

03:52 PM on 02/26/2011

I would like to see a study to answer my questions:

- What are the results if people follow the diet for 6 weeks (or 4 weeks or 5 weeks, I've seen differing protocols) without the hCG?

- What are the results if people receive the hCG injection (or orally or the homeopathic mixture) and do not diet?

- What are the results if people adhere to the diet and receive a placebo?

And I have some questions:

- Before it became fashionable to maintain a low weight during pregancy, hCG didn't appear to help pregnant women break down the fat in their bodies. If anything, it appears the pregnancy hormones promote holding onto fat during pregnancy, and I am surprised only one person here has reported increased breast size. Is this "fat releasing" effect documented?

- What does a person following this protocol (the medical one being 4/5/6 weeks on hCG and the same amount off) do during the off period? If they maintain their severely restricted calorie intake without hCG, why do they need the hCG? If they need the hCG to kickstart it and "re-start" their whatever, why do they need multiple rounds of it ... the endocrine system is constantly fluctuating and one hormone counter-balances another, so it doesn't make sense that the "hCG hunger control" lasts for an addition 4/5/6 weeks but not longer. What does make sense is, overtime people who are starving feel hunger, then no hunger, then hunger again.

[LovingWorks]

10:51 PM on 03/03/2011

You can find links to some of the placebo studies on hCG at: http://mlw.mylovingworks.com/forum
Look for the article on "The Unspoken Controversy of hCG and the Not-So-Hidden Risks to Chiropractors"

I've researched hCG extensively and have not found answers to your first two questions but answers to the third can be found at my website's forum.

Disclosure: We sell an weight loss category product that competes with hCG. While we feel ours is better (of course and for numerous reasons), hCG has helped hundreds of thousands of people. Just educate yourself so you can make healthy choices.

[ChaCubed]

02:48 PM on 03/04/2011

Thank you, LovingWorks.

[where i stand]

01:07 PM on 03/04/2011

I can only speak from my own experience with HCG homeopathic drops. Here is a summary of my program
Phase 1: begin drops & 2 days of eating normally
Phase 2: continue drops for 23-40 days w/500 calories per day of only lean meats, & non-starchy fruits & veggies...no sugars, starches, oils, dairy plus limit exercise
Phase 3: stop drops & move up to 1500 cal/day, adding back oils & dairy for 3 weeks, begin exercise program
Phase 4: continue 1500 cal/day, adding back in sugars & starches in moderation, continue exercise program
I've successfully completed 2 rounds & lost 60lbs. I'm on R3 & have lost 9lbs in 5 days. I'm eating healthy, this program has completely changed my eating habits & w/some weight off, it's much easier to exercise. I will count calories for the rest of my life, but I've had no trouble maintaining my weight loss between rounds.

[ChaCubed]

02:48 PM on 03/04/2011

Thank you, WhereIStand.

[IgnoranceKills]

12:10 PM on 02/26/2011

This is such a stupid "diet".

ANYONE on a 500 calorie a day diet is going to lose weight, the body has no choice in a caloric deficit except to start shedding pounds. The HCG is completely irrelevant and none of the weight loss should be attributed to it... but people are stupid and believe stupid things.

[dogluvinlindsey]

09:58 AM on 03/18/2011

Stupid is making this kind of comment about something you have not studied. I have been on this diet with the homeopathic version of the hormone for 36 days now, eat 650 calories a day, take multiple vitamins and minerals and have lost 24 lbs - something I have never been able to do before. The weight I am losing is abnormal fat and I feel great. Don't knock something you know nothing about.

[Stryker00]

10:33 AM on 02/26/2011

I have been on the HCG diet since August 20th 2010 --- I've lost 50 pounds. In the past I have been on the following diets: Atkins (made me sick - too much meat), Weight Watchers (very little results - even though I followed it faithfully), Nutri System (pre-packaged food - bad idea; I lost 11 pounds and it cost me $1100), SouthBeach (good diet - lots of food prep time and expense), etc. The injections curve appetite but that is only part of it. This diet treats obesity like a disease - the HCG and the diet help reset the hypothalamus and it targets trouble areas. I've lost over 20" - mostly from my hips and thighs. I work out and I have been very healthy on this diet. I have been in the medical field for 15 yrs - and I fully support this diet and I am proof it is not dangerous - you do have to have great discipline and self-control for it to truly work. I have also began eating completely organic.

[IgnoranceKills]

12:15 PM on 02/26/2011

I'm sorry- "reset" the hypothalamus?

[LovingWorks]

11:04 PM on 03/03/2011

There is a myth propagated in the hCG community that the hypothalamus is "reset" to allow those who complete the Simeons protocol to be able to avoid putting the weight back on. There is no evidence of this, other than this statement is repeated over and over so often that proponents accept this on its face without validation.

"Reset" to what, exactly? "Reset" from what? No one can explain this idea. Yet the myth is that people who lose weight on hCG will be able to keep it off permanently because of a change in their hypothalamus rather than a change in their relationship to food and their eating habits.

Because we sell a product that competes with hCG, we get LOTS OF PEOPLE who have put the weight back on using hCG.

Also, there are many examples of people who have kept their weight off for months or even years after using hCG. That's wonderful for them. We would suggest there are other factors than "resetting the hypothalamus" at work. Otherwise, everyone who was successful on losing weight on hCG would "reset their hypothalamus" and never gain it back. This is far from true.

hCG does work-- there are hundreds of thousands of people who have had success. And that's great. It just doesn't hold up well in double-blind, placebo-based studies and hence is regulated by the FDA/FTC going back to 1975.

Educate yourself in order to make good choices.

[FitDiva]

03:31 PM on 02/25/2011

Well, I can't speak on anything other than my own experience and I have always been active, weight lifting, yoga, running. I have done several diets where I have indeed lost the weight, Atkins, Jenny Craig but always gained it back. Since doing 2 rounds of HCG last year I have maintained a 30 lb weight loss since August of last year. I'm not even that great in regards to the maintenance protocol but I lost the abnormal weight stores, i.e. in my back and midsection and I don't care what Oz or anyone else says because the results, at least for me, speaks for itself.