HCG Injections for Weight Loss? Nope.
Posted on December 30, 2008
It’s desperation time for many people. The new year is almost here, and people are trying to find that quick fix to lose weight in the coming year. Most certainly, some people will turn to the HCG diet.
I’ve heard a lot lately about how HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, the pregnancy hormone) injections can help people lose weight. When I heard about it I was surprised that so many people swear by it and love it. I even saw a sign promoting HCG weight loss at a local “medical spa” (pictured below).
The HCG diet is basically this: Eat 500 Calories per day from specific foods, inject yourself with a shot of HCG each day for 6 weeks, and don’t exercise. According to one web site promoting this diet, you can lose 1-2 pounds per day. The HCG (allegedly) “resets” your metabolism and helps you not to be hungry.
Does this sound ridiculous to anyone else?
Let’s see what others have to say. I included the sources in the footnotes so you can check out the details on your own.
A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Pharmacology stated:
“We conclude that there is no scientific evidence that HCG causes weight-loss, a redistribution of fat, staves off hunger or induces a feeling of well-being.”1
Another study published in The Western Journal of Medicine says:
“Weight loss was identical between the two groups, and there was no evidence for differential effects on hunger, mood or localized body measurements. Placebo injections, therefore, appear to be as effective as HCG in the treatment of obesity.”2
Even a dietitian at MayoClinic.com weighed in:
“Years ago, researchers studied HCG injections as a possible weight-loss aid. Results of most studies weren’t promising, however. In fact, HCG injections seemed to be no more effective than were placebos in promoting weight loss. Today, HCG injections are primarily used to treat fertility issues.”3
Not enough for you? Here’s an article called Weight loss is hard, and human pregnancy hormone won’t change that from a board-certified internist about why HCG is not the answer. It’s a great read from over at CalorieLab.
The Bottom Line? There’s no benefit of injecting yourself with HCG. If you eat 500 Calories per day you will lose weight, but you know that’s just not healthy. Instead of wasting hundreds of dollars on HCG injections, maybe buy some healthier foods, join a gym, or hire a good trainier/nutritionist to help you lose weight the healthy way.
Again, I don’t care that the HCG diet does in fact help you lose weight. It’s not healthy and there are better uses for your money.
Healthy lifestyle changes will help you lose weight and keep it off for a lifetime.
Well, I guess if you really want to spend the hundreds of dollars, just send it to me and I’ll send you some saline injections that will have the same effect.
- W.J Assendelft, G.K Lijesen, I. Theeuwen and G. Van Der Wal, “The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity by means of the Simeons therapy: a criteria-based meta-analysis,” The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 40 (1995): 237-43. [↩]
- G.A Bray and F.L Greenway, “Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity: a critical assessment of the Simeons method,” The Western Journal of Medicine 127 (1977): 461-3. [↩]
- MayoClinic.com. [Web Site] (2008); available from http://mayoclinic.com/health/hcg-injections/AN01859 ; Internet; accessed 30 December 2008. [↩]
» Filed Under Fad Diets, Weight Control
Comments
16 Responses to “HCG Injections for Weight Loss? Nope.”
Leave a Reply
Anyone can lose weight on 500 calories a day. Gosh, I cannot believe that a spa can advertise that without getting in trouble.
Small Steps to Health´s last blog post..Merry Christmas!
Since there is usually 2 sides to every story, you may want to check out this post that refutes the idea that the hCG diet doesn’t work:
http://hcgdietinfo.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/hcg-info-just-the-facts-please/
HCG Diet´s last blog post..HCG Weight Loss Before and After Photos
Happy New Year!
When you think you have heard it all…
Will fad diets ever end, or just keep getting more outrageous? I guess the latter as long as there are gullible people.
Just saying something works, or finding spokespeople, or doing a poorly designed study can’t compete with objective, well-designed studies.
Other than expense and time, I hope it does not physically harm. Some say don’t knock it if you have not tried it? I say use a little common sense. I have not tried hitting myself in the head to feel better because common sense tells me it won’t, despite what a spokesperson says, and I am pretty sure I can find a study to prove it.
It’s amazing how many people will try to dupe the public into believing ridiculous advertising. I’m also surprised that they don’t say if you cut your 500 calorie intake in half, you can achieve the weight loss goals twice as fast. Good post and research.
Tom Rooney´s last blog post..Some Dangers of Quick Weight Loss Diets
lol. What a waste of money. I’m guessing the long term effects of the weight loss would show 100% of the people gain weight once they start eating again.
Super Healthy Kids´s last blog post..Happy New Year
I read your article with my mouth wide open in disbelief . I cannot believe that people are really falling for this and paying good money for it too.
Its amazing how desperate people can get, especially to start injecting yourself and if something says not to exercise that surely should would make you think its not right.
Keeley´s last blog post..Quick Diet Loss - Is Calorie Restriction Healthy?
[…] HCG Injections for Weight Loss? Nope. | blakehagen.com […]
This is bizarre, but I can’t say I’m surprised–lots of scams out there.
StrongandFit´s last blog post..This Week’s Health News 2/4/09
Sound ridiculous to me,why don’t they just ….exercise!
I used hcg and lost 30 lbs in 30 days!!!
I never even exercised, even thogh I should have.
I tried everything including exercise b4 starting the hcg but nothing worked because of a hormone imbalance.
EVERYONE HERE DOUBTS HCG BUT IT WORKED FOR ME!!!
http://hcgmedical.com/Simeons.asp
@adia
I’m not saying it doesn’t work. Like I said, no matter what you inject yourself with, it would work when only eating 500 calories per day. I said it’s not healthy. There are better and healthier ways to lose weight, hormone imbalance or not. That’s not me saying that… it’s science.
Exactly, if you eat only 500 calories per day no doubt you will lose weight! staying healthy is another issue…My advice? go to a doctor and get a proper nutrition plan, that will help you change your bad habits and stay healthy. Thanks!
This is completely ludicrous. Injecting yourself with any substance is wacky at best and life threatening at worst. There is a natural way to lose fat and most of it is common sense involving low cardiovascular exercise, drinking plenty of water, strength training, and eating right. Don’t try to take shortcuts or you’ll pay for them in the long run.
Mmmm… How about Do do exercise and Don’t take unnecessary pills or tips. Why people dont listen to doctors, but instead listen to un-qualified people on the internet is because they really dont have the motivation to commit to exercise. Its boring, but the basics apply to virtually everyone folks!!
Well you can scoff at this but a friend of mine lost 84 lbs on this HCG Diet -supervised by a doctor. The 500 calorie diet was a little testing and he never thought he could drink that much water - but he looks fantastic and is healthy –I am going to go on it in Feb and I have 70+ pounds to lose.