HCG For Weight Loss: Evaluating Its Effectiveness

The combination of the HCG hormone and a calorie-restrictive diet is an incredibly popular weight-loss solution which people around the world are eager to have a go at.

There are numerous reviews online touting the success of the diet, but that does not mean that introducing a hormone into your system to trigger weight loss is any less of a controversial topic. It’s up to us to have a closer look at the use of HCG for weight loss and decide on its effectiveness for ourselves.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the diet, we need to have a look at the science behind it and how this diet came to be.

What Is HCG Hormone?

The HCG hormone is produced by women who are pregnant. While overeating and constant cravings are the most popular symptoms associated with pregnancy, nausea and loss of appetite are also suffered by expecting mothers. And it’s the HCG hormone that's responsible for the appetite suppressing attributes of pregnancy.

The HCG hormone is also responsible for the baby receiving all of the nutrients it needs to grow, even when the mother is not eating much food herself. The HCG hormone forces the body to turn to stubborn fat stores in order to meet the nutritional demands of the growing fetus. The fat deposits around the abdomen, hips, and thighs are used to create energy for the unborn child.

But, how has this idea been adopted as a weight loss solution?

The Use Of HCG For Weight Loss

The HCG hormone is now being administered in the form of injections, pills and HCG drops in order to stimulate the same effects it has in pregnant women.

Everyone complains about how incredibly difficult it is to get rid of the stubborn fat, even with the help of a good diet and exercise. This is one of the reasons why HCG drops and injections are gaining popularity.

The creator of the diet, Simeons, did note that expecting mothers would have a lot of their calories used up by the growing fetus. This, as a result, creates a calorie deficit which would force the body to turn to fat stores for energy.

Since people using HCG for weight loss aren't pregnant, they need to follow a strict calorie-restrictive diet. This diet contains just around 500 calories, which is far lower than the calorie requirements of the average person.

What does this mean?

As with many diets, the body turns to fat stores and muscle stores for energy when it is in an extreme calorie deficit.

See Also: Shifting Your Family To The “Real Food” Diet

How Do People Take The HCG Hormone?

Initially, the HCG hormone was only available in the form of injections. They had to be administered by a doctor back then. Now, this is considered to be the most invasive method.

Today, anyone can buy HCG pills and HCG drops online and use them in the comfort of their own home. This allows for individuals to try the diet without the use and expense of doctors and injections.

The most successful method is the HCG drops. This is because it allows the hormone to go directly into the bloodstream via the glands under the tongue.

Why Is There So Much Controversy Surrounding The HCG Diet?

The HCG diet has helped a lot of people lose weight, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol. With all of these amazing benefits, why is it that many healthcare professionals do not agree with Simeon’s revolutionary diet?

Healthcare professionals claim that it is the calorie-restrictive diet alone- not the HCG hormone- that makes all of those things possible.

Tests have been performed in which test subjects ate a calorie-restrictive diet to find out the effects. For the results, the subjects managed to lose unwanted fat and have lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

There is no scientific evidence that can establish the unique link between HCG hormone and weight loss. Despite this, a lot of people are still giving it a try.

Conclusion

A calorie restrictive diet, especially one which is as low as 500 calories, can be incredibly difficult to stick to. Apart from that, the 500-calorie diet is also not sustainable due to the calorie consumption being too low. This is the reason so many people quit their diet and resume their regular unhealthy eating patterns.

There have been reports that the HCG hormone does help to suppress the appetite. This enables the dieter to stay in a calorie deficit long enough to benefit from weight loss.

Whether the HCG hormone has these effects or it's simply a placebo, it is still a topic up for debate.