What Is the hCG Diet?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone your body normally makes. However, during pregnancy, the placenta makes hCG in large amounts. So, hCG is what pregnancy tests measure to find out whether someone is pregnant.
hCG is a treatment for medical conditions such as infertility and hormone imbalances. Also, some weight loss lozenges, drops, and sprays that you can buy online, in certain stores, and at weight-loss clinics contain a lab-made version of hCG. These supplements are meant to be paired with a very low-calorie (as little as 500 calories per day) diet.
The makers of these products claim they can boost your metabolism, reduce hunger, and help you shed up to 30 pounds in a month or two. But hCG is not approved for weight loss and there’s no evidence it helps. The U.S. FDA warns against its use, saying that very restrictive diets, such as the hCG diet, are dangerous.
The history of the hCG diet
British doctor Albert T. W. Simeons introduced the hCG diet in a 1954 medical journal article. He came up with the idea after treating young boys with Fröhlich syndrome, a rare hormonal disorder that causes obesity. Simeons found that injecting these boys with hCG taken from the urine of pregnant women helped them lose weight, especially in places like their belly, hips, and thighs.
The diet he developed claims to help people lose weight quickly by eating 500 to 800 calories a day and adding daily hCG injections to promote fat loss in places like the butt and thighs. In 1971, Simeons published a book about the diet, titled Pounds & Inches: A New Approach to Obesity. In 2009, thanks to renewed attention on the Internet, the hCG diet surged in popularity.
Does the hCG Diet Work?
Many studies have tested the effectiveness of the hCG diet ever since Simeons introduced it. A 1995 analysis of 24 studies found no evidence that this diet helps reduce hunger, promote weight loss, or trim fat from areas like the hips and thighs.
Other research found that placebo, or fake injections, worked just as well as hCG injections for treating obesity. Due to the lack of evidence, the American Society of Bariatric Physicians recommends against using the hCG diet for weight loss.
hCG Diet Plan
The hCG diet has three phases:
- Loading phase: You eat high-calorie, high-fat foods to rev up your metabolism and get your body ready for weight loss. This phase lasts two days.
- Weight loss phase: You eat a very low-calorie diet, usually 500 to 800 calories per day. At the same time, you take hCG through an injection, tablet, or other form. This phase usually lasts three to six weeks.
- Maintenance phase: You stop taking hCG and eat a well-balanced diet and exercise. The goal in this phase is to stick to your new eating habits and maintain weight loss long-term.
hCG dietary restrictions and preferences
While you can eat a variety of foods on this diet, the calorie count is so restrictive that it might be hard for people with specific diets to follow. Though many fruits and vegetables are included in the diet, during the weight loss phase, you’ll need to eat some protein from animal sources, such as chicken, beef, fish, and eggs. That could be a problem for vegetarians and vegans.
Gluten-free shouldn’t be an issue. You can choose gluten-free carbs to eat during the loading and maintenance phases of the diet.
What You Can Eat and What You Can't
You won't be eating much. The diet lets you have two meals a day: lunch and dinner. Each meal has to include one protein, one vegetable, one bread, and one fruit.
You can broil or grill veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp as long as you don’t eat any visible fat. No salmon, eel, tuna, herring, or dried or pickled fish are allowed.
Vegetable choices include spinach, chard, chicory, beet greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, and cabbage.
Bread can be one breadstick or one piece of melba toast.
For fruit, you can choose an orange, an apple, a handful of strawberries, or half a grapefruit. The diet allows as much water, coffee, and tea as you want. You can also have up to 1 tablespoon of milk per day.
You can use sugar substitutes but not sugar to sweeten drinks. Butter and oils aren't allowed.
Safety Concerns of the hCG Diet
hCG products are not FDA-approved for weight loss. In fact, the FDA warns against using them. Claims about the weight loss benefits of the hCG diet are not proven. Taking hCG while drastically cutting calories may cause more harm than benefit.
Potential risks of using hCG injections
hCG injections for other medical uses are linked to problems such as:
- Allergic reactions
- Mood changes
- Acne
- Facial hair growth
- Headache
- Swelling of the breasts, penis, or testes
- Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach
- Pelvic pain
- Bloating
Potential side effects of extreme calorie-restricted diets
It's very hard to stick to a strict calorie limit. Not only is it uncomfortable to live on just 500 calories a day, but it can also be dangerous. It’s impossible to meet all your nutritional needs on so few calories. Consuming less than 1,200 calories a day makes it tough to get enough vitamins and minerals without taking supplements.
Doctors sometimes recommend a very low-calorie diet (under 1,000 calories per day) if someone is obese and has a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, but these diets must be carefully supervised by a doctor.
People who follow very restrictive diets like this one are at risk for:
- Gallstones
- An imbalance of the electrolytes that help your muscles and nerves work
- Abnormal heartbeat
The hCG diet also contains less protein than experts recommend you get each day. Its recommended protein intake is 30-50 grams, which is typically less than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. (For example, a person who weighs 175 pounds would need 63 grams of protein per day.)
Takeaways
The hCG diet involves taking a hormone made in the body during pregnancy and following a very low-calorie diet. hCG isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss, and there’s no scientific evidence that it works. Plus, a very calorie-restricted diet can cause side effects such as gallstones, an irregular heartbeat, and low electrolytes. Talk to your doctor before trying any new diet plan to make sure it’s safe for you.
hCG FAQs
Are there any side effects of HCG for weight loss?
hCG injections may cause allergic reactions, mood changes, facial hair growth, and swelling of the breasts or penis. Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach are other side effects linked to this hormone.
Should I ask my doctor’s advice before signing up for HCG for weight loss?
Yes. There are safer ways to lose weight that don't require supplements or highly restrictive diets. Ask your doctor which weight loss program is most appropriate for you.
Who should not take HCG for weight loss?
The FDA advises everyone to avoid hCG weight loss products because hCG isn’t approved for this purpose, and it could be risky.
