The hCG diet is a combination of drug treatments and food restrictions for rapid weight loss. Usually, the hCG diet is conducted under medical supervision as the key drug in the diet is a hormone which is administered intravenously. However, hCG is also now available in pill form making the diet much easier to follow.
HCG is Human Choriogonadotropin, a hormone produced in the placenta. It regulates the female metabolism while she is pregnant and it appears to have a positive effect on fat oxidation when administered to obese patients. HCG was first used by Dr. ATW Simeons, a British physician, who published his findings in a report in 1954.
Since Dr. Simeons’ findings there have been many more studies conducted and the conclusion is that hCG is effective in treating obesity with quick results. It accelerates fat mobilization from adipose tissue meaning that the body burns through fat much quicker than normal. However, hCG is only effective if a very low calorie diet is adopted. Claims are that fat is released so quickly from the body that it will immediately seek to replenish its stores but with no fuel to turn to fat, it will continue to burn through fat stores. Were it not for the clinical evidence of hCG’s effectiveness, one would have to wonder whether the hCG is the reason for the weight loss or the extremely low calorie diet, usually under 500 calories per day.
Many clinical studies have found that hCG improves fat utilization in the body and appears to help control appetite. Patients who underwent treatment for obesity with the use of hCG found it easier to function on a very low calorie diet without any of the usual side effects such as dizziness or irritability. However, it must be noted that significant results can only be obtained by following the diet’s protocols exactly.
There have been a series of dietary guidelines offered by various doctors and practitioners that need to be followed while on a weight management program using hCG. Generally, they all rely on a very low calorie diet, which is under 500 calories per day. It seems that subsequent weight gain is rare due to the fact that a person’s appetite is completely altered. It also appears the hypothalamus’ functions are reset and the metabolism operates at an increased rate.
The biggest advantage of an hCG diet is that weight loss comes only from fat and not lean tissue as well as the speed of weight loss. The average weight loss ranges between one and three pounds per day. There are also no known side effects to taking hCG, either intravenously or oral. Headaches are associated with taking larger doses of hCG but that is only the case for fertility treatments.
However, irrespective of how effective the hormone treatment is, it is not recommended to go on an hCG diet without first consulting a doctor.
