Doctors comparing weight-loss results with HCG injections versus a placebo failed to produce evidence that the hormone was anything special. Read the entire article here
Disclaimer: The use of hCG for weight loss is Off Label. the FDA allows Physicians to prescribe hCG Off label. We are required by law to post the following: The FDA has not approved hCG and there is no substantial evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of Obesity.
There is a lot of hype about HCG diet and my opinion is based on literature search, conversations with other Physicians who have HCG weight loss practice and my own experience with treating patients for the last few months.
"Other currently popular diets call for cutting back on fat and sugar, consuming whole grains and lean meats, and even indulging in red wine. The HCG diet, in contrast, calls for eating just 500 calories a day while taking daily injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). "
After reviewing the literature, HCG seems safe in the small doses given for this diet program so I decided to try it .
I tried the 500 calories/day diet for 2 days with HCG and hated it!!
I felt weak, tired, unable to work out, unable to focus and just not well overall. I subsequently wrote my own diet program which includes adequate amount of lean protein, small amount of "good fats" and lots of greens. The diet ends being around 700-800 calories/day. I have a list of supplements with the diet that help improve glucose metabolism. I have prescribed low dose appetite suppressants to a few patients after careful screening for the first few days, which helps them follow the program.
Here are my findings on my patient population on HDG diet:
PATIENT DEMOGRAPHICS
- My weight loss patients are men and women between the ages of 36 and 60.
- All patients have tried and successfully lost weight in the past, some have been on commercial programs, some have lost weight under medical supervison with the aid of appetite suppressants. All patients have regained the weight.
- The weight loss goals have ranged from 10 pounds to 60 pounds.
- So far, I have used HCG for 40 days only. For patients with bigger weight loss goals, they have been following the diet on their own after the initial 6 weeks without HCG. I have been asked by patients to keep then on HCG for 3-4 months so they can achieve their goal weight. I am considering it.
- More than half of the patients did not use any appetite suppressants
- Out of the patients who did use appetite suppressants, about half stopped the medication after the first week (did not think they needed it)
- The weight loss has been rather rapid between 3-11 pounds in week 1 (depending on the total excess weight and how closely they followed the diet) After the first week weight loss has been steady between 2-5 pounds/week.
- Most patients said they "felt great", "full of energy" . Only two patients had a hard time keeping with the program because they had irresistible urge to eat, not because they were hungry or weak. These two patients later did fine with addition of low dose appetite suppressant.
- On average, patients have lost more weight in the lower abdomen, love handles, thigh area while retaining their muscle tone of face and arms. I am not sure if this is due to the type of foods or if HCG has an effect on inches like the proponents of the diet claim.
- Some patients especially the ones close to their ideal body weight, who were having a hard time losing weight on their own did remarkably well. One of them is a 37 year old female who was only 8 pounds away from her goal weight and has already lost 5.5 pounds in the first two weeks, which she could not achieve with diet and exercise alone.
- One of my earlier patients lost a total of 35 pounds and has kept it off for almost 6 months, which is different from her previous weight loss experiences.
CONCLUSIONS (SO FAR):
- I need a much larger patient base to make accurate comparison
- Ideally it would be great to compare two identical demographic groups of patients on the same diet with or without HCG for better comparison. (i am not sure if I will be able to do this!)
- I believe weight loss in pounds might be the same with or without HCG injections.
- So far, it seems HCG might help lose preferentially fat weight in the midsection while preserving muscle mass. (I do body fat measurement with Tanita in my office and see improvement.)
- It seems patients who have lost weight in my practice have managed to keep it off so far, part of this may be due to an improved lifestyle , which I emphasize at every visit and the types of food choices in the program. I will keep you posted on my patient progress in one year!!
At this moment, there is no MIRACLE CURE for Obesity! In the end it boils down to better lifestyle and a permanent change in relationship to food. HCG may help jump start this food relationship. Whether HCG "resets' the hypothalamus to change your metabolism for a short while, nobody knows. If there is a small chance that HCG can correct some of the metabolic problems leading to weight gain, considering that low dose HCG has no side effects, I am willing to try it out, because like most of you, I am tired of going through this weight gain /weight loss cycle!!
My fear is, like most other hypes too many "weight loss clinics" are offering HCG diet without close Physician supervision and even more scary is that people are able to purchase "HCG" without prescription online. These type of practices could lead to undesirable side effects which will discredit the potential use of HCG even more!!
I think role of HCG in weight loss needs more research and is worth looking into.
If you would like more information on our HCG Medical weight loss program in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
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