Updated 4/18/23./ Have you heard of the HCG diet? It’s been around for over 60 years. I first heard of this diet in 2007 in a book called “The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About”. What I would like to do here is review the scientific studies that have been performed on the HCG diet protocol and let you draw your own conclusions about whether HCG injections help weight loss or not. This review will focus on the original version of HCG diet – the version that uses injections of the hormone HCG.
Homeopathic HCG Review
HCG drops (homeopathic version of this diet)
What Is The HCG Diet & The Simeons Protocol?
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. This is a hormone that women make when they are pregnant. In fact the most natural way to raise HCG levels is to get pregnant.
The HCG diet dates back to about 1954 when a doctor named Albert Simeons started giving HCG injections to obese people. He published his study in the Lancet, a well-known medical journal.
The HCG diet consists of daily HCG injections coupled with a 500-calorie diet. In addition, people are also told to refrain from using hardly any fat. Even the fats in cosmetics are to be avoided during the HCG diet. There are many HCG diet books to help people with
the food portion of the program.
According to Simeons, giving HCG along with the 500-calorie diet was better for weight loss than just giving them 500 calories. He claimed that his technique achieved fast weight loss without people being hungry. This, he stated was because HCG suppressed the appetite and enhanced people’s moods.
HCG injections also were alleged to burn fat from specific body areas. Today we would call this claim “spot reduction” – ridding fat from only certain locations like troublesome areas of the thighs for example.
It’s my understanding that in the Kevin Trudeau’s weight loss book, he speculated that HCG stimulated the hypothalamus of the brain to get the body to start burning fat. Whether that's true or not, I cannot say.
For more on Kevin Trudeau, see my review of Herpes Cure Report.
What matters is that Dr. Simeons claimed that the HCG injections could result in weight loss of between ½ lb and almost 2 lbs per day on average.
Is there any proof this is true? Let's look at the clinical studies on HCG and weight loss and see what we can discover.
HCG Diet Research. Does The Simeons Protocol Work?
There is HCG weight loss research. Doctors have looked at this weight loss solution several times since the early 1950s. I have linked to the actual scientific studies so you can read them for yourself if you like.
In 1963 Craig and associates tested the Simeons diet in 20 overweight women. The study lasted 45 days. Women were split into 2 groups:
- one group received daily shots of HCG (125 units)
- the other received shots of a placebo
All women ate only 550 calories a day contained in 2 meals. Women could drink as much water, tea, or coffee as they liked (no sugar in tea or coffee).
Results: Women getting HCG injections did not lose more weight.
In 1973, Asher and Harper tested the HCG diet in 40 overweight women for 6 weeks. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Women either received either
- daily HCG injections (125 units)
- or a saline placebo.
All women consumed a 500-calorie diet.
Results. Asher and Harper found that women getting HCG injections lost more weight than those who received a placebo.
In the study, it was stated that Harper, who did the “clinical work” also “has an active practice using HCG for weight reduction”. In science, this is technically a no no. Some might see this as possible bias (even unconscious bias) on the part of the researcher.
However, the connection of the researcher to the HCG diet was clearly disclosed at the beginning of the study. They were not trying to hide this, and I will call this study a “win” for the HCG diet.
It was because of the findings by Asher and Harper that in 1976, Stein and colleagues decided to test the HCG diet. In their investigation, they used a similar protocol as Asher and Harper (Asher provided Stein with their research design).
They tested the HCG diet in 51 young women (ave aged 33). The study lasted 32 days. Women were split into 2 groups:
- One group received daily injections of HGC (125 units)
- The other group received injections of a saline placebo
All women were put on the identical 500-calorie diet as in the Asher and Harper study. Women were also instructed to drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.
Results. This study found that the HCG diet did not help weight loss.
Women getting HCG did not lose any more weight than those getting the placebo. In addition, women getting HCG injections did not lose
more weight in specific body areas (as the HCG diet proponents often say will happen).
Also, in 1976, another HCG study was performed by Young and colleagues. In this study, there were 202 people.
For 6 days a week, people received either
- injections of HCG (125 units a day)
- or saline injections (placebo)
In addition people also ate 500 calories a day and received lectures on diet and behavior modification twice a week for the length of the study.
All fat was excluded from the diet except for the fat that was associated with the protein that people ate from food.
This study also tested whether HCG treatment helped people maintain their weight loss better. This was accomplished by giving people 6 weeks of no HCG injections coupled with education about how to eat properly.
Results. At the end of the study, researchers found that HCG injections did not lead to any greater weight loss or weight maintenance than those who did not get HCG injections. In the words of the researchers:
“… we could not demonstrate by any objective indicator that HCG was beneficial in promoting weight loss, nor was there any significant difference in fat loss or body circumference measurements”
In 1977, Shetty and Kalkhoff did a small study of HCG in 6 hospitalized obese women. The women were only given 500 calories a day and injected daily with 125 units of HCG for 30 days. Another 5 women were given the exact same diet yet injected with a placebo.
Results. According to the authors, weight loss between groups was “nearly identical”. Measurements of the circumferences of the chest, waist, hips or thighs also showed no differences between the HCG and placebo groups. Any changes observed, the authors noted, was consistent with “semi-starvation” and weight loss”.
Also in 1977, Greenway and associates tested the HCG diet for 6 weeks in 40 healthy women (age 20-40) who were randomly divided into 2 groups:
- One group received HCG
- The other group got a placebo
Both groups received injections 6 days a week for 6 weeks. Greenway did not specify how much HCG women received in their investigation (I’ll assume it was 125 units but I cannot prove this).
Results. People getting daily HCG injections did not lose any more weight than women who received a placebo. Likewise, there were no differences in body circumferences or mood in those who received HCG injections. The Greenway study was concluded with these words (note these words were written in 1977):
“We feel that the 20 year history of the use of HCG in the treatment of obesity should come to an end because injections of placebo appear to be equally effective in all respects.”
In 1983 Birmingham and Smith reviewed 6 of double-blind studies of the HCG diet conducted at that time.
Results. They concluded that only one study (the Asher and Harper study mentioned above) found that HCG injections caused weight loss more than placebo. The other 5 studies found that HCG injections do not cause weight loss.
In 1990, Venter and associates tested the HCG diet in 40 obese women for 6 weeks. In this double-blind placebo-controlled study, women were either given daily HCG injections or injections of a placebo. All women were put on the same diet that supplied 1200 calories a day.
Before and after the study, they tested body weight, body circumferences, and hunger level.
Results. The HCG diet “showed no advantages over those on placebo in respect any of the variables recorded”. So HCG didn’t work.
In 1995, Lijesen and colleagues performed a meta-analysis of 24 previously published HCG diet studies.
A meta analysis basically means that the researchers added together the results of a bunch of studies, to see if they could find “the big picture”.
Results. They concluded that “there is no scientific evidence that HCG is effective in the treatment of obesity”
and that:
“it [HCG] does not bring about weigh loss or fat redistribution nor does it reduce hunger or induce a feeling of well being.”
Summary Of HCG Weight Loss Studies
Study | People in study | Study design | Results |
Craig (1963) | 20 | Double-blind placebo controlled | HCG doesn’t work |
Asher/Harper (1973) | 40 | Randomized double-blind | HCG works |
Stein (1976) | 51 | Randomized double-blind | HCG doesn't work |
Young (1976) | 202 | Randomized double blind cross over | HCG doesn't work |
Sheety (1977) | 6 | Randomized double-blind | HCG doesn't work |
Greenway (1977) | 40 | Randomized double-blind | HCG doesn't work |
Birmingham (1983) | 358 | Meta-analysis of 6 HCG studies | HCG doesn't work |
Lijesen (1995) | ? | Meta-analysis of 24 HCG studies | HCG doesn’t work |
Note. This is just a sample of the HCG weight loss studies. There are several others.
HCG Diet Video
Here's a quick video revealing the research on the Simeons Protocol and other HCG diet research
Watch this video on my YouTube channel if you prefer.
HCG Diet And The Thyroid
Some ask if this diet can help the metabolism or thyroid or improve hypothyroidism. I am not aware of any research that looked at the HCG diet protocol and checked to see if it altered the level of thyroid or TSH levels. As people lose weight -through any diet – metabolism does tend to decrease.
This is why its often easier to lose the first 50 pounds than the last 10 pounds of weight. Whether or not HCG can change this drop in metabolic rate needs more research.
Some say that HCG shots (and HCG drops) help people preserve muscle during weight loss. Again, I have not seen any scientific proof that the protocol reduces muscle loos when dieting. Theoretically, eating only 500 calories per day would eventually cause the body to start cannibalizing itself to maintain adequate energy.
Whether HCG injections can reduce/reverse this process is unknown as far as I can tell and is likewise deserving of better research. These 2 aspects of the HCG diet would make for very interesting topics for graduate students to research (hint, hint to the grad students reading this).
HCG Injection Side Effects
Most of the human HCG injection weight loss studies did not report anything bad happening but its also true many did not last long enough either. Here are some things to consider if you embark on trying this yourself.
If you do HCG injections, you really should do it under a doctor's supervision. Don't buy the HCG hormone on the internet and inject it yourself. Don't listen to any “internet expert” who makes claims about how much to use or anything like that. There are doctors who will prescribe HCG for “off-label” use. While I have been critical of doctors who do this (see the HCG drops review), it's likely safer when used in conjunction with a physician who knows about this stuff than using a do-it-yourself approach.
Do not share needles to reduce costs. That is a surefire way of getting a disease.
Realize that weight loss may not be so great without also reducing calorie intake. That said, I could not recommend only 500 calories per day. Instead, why not try a safer amount, such as 1500 calories per day? If HCG really does work, then it should even work – albeit slower – when a more rational reduction in calories are consumed. Slow weight loss help stabilizes metabolic rate better than fast weight loss.
See the review at Dr.BillSukala.com for more insights.
Can HCG Cause Cancer?
In a 2016 paper titled Evidence for, and Associated Risks with, the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Supplemented Diet, published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, the authors call attention to the possibility that the use of HCG hormone may promote and spread the growth of cancer.
In their paper, the authors point out that there are different variations of the HGC molecules. Two of these types are called:
- Hyperglycosylated HCG (hCGh)
- hCG free beta-subunit (hCGb)
These kinds of HCG are thought to be linked to cancer promotion. I have yet to see clinical studies published that directly link HCG to cancer in humans, although the authors mention they have people online speculating that HCG may have caused their cancer. I have seen these websites myself. Performing an online search for “Did HCG injections cause my cancer?” should reveal websites where this topic is discussed.
Does The HCG Diet Work?
Some say that HCG needs to be used soon after being prepared, or it becomes useless. Could this be why all the other HCG studies show it doesn't work? Could all the other researchers have made a critical mistake? Maybe. In theory, there may be something to this- if HCG really does break down as fast as they say.
Could there be a conspiracy by the medical community to prevent people from knowing the truth about HCG? I don’t think so. Here’s why.
Covering up proof that the HCG diet works would be very difficult because EVERYBODY can read the HCG diet studies. ANYBODY can replicate the studies today using the very same procedures and see if it works. So why don’t the sellers of the HCG diet protocol – instead of invoking the name of Albert Simeons– do their own HCG diet research, publish that research and prove to the world that the HCG diet really works?
Here's HCG supplements on Amazon if you want to see what others are saying.
What do you think?
Ellie says
I am curs supervision. In 10 days I have lost 10 lbs. I have only lost .36% muscle but have lost 3% body fat. I have lost an inch off my waist, an inch off my thighs, an inch off my arms and 1/2 inch off my neck so far. When I have done other diets, I lose muscle but not body fat. This diet is truly amazing.
Joe says
Hi Ellie, how are you figuring out you only lost 0.36% muscle and 3% body fat? What test did you do to determine this?
Flo says
I only have my personal experience: I used this diet a few years ago (buying hcg online & taking sunlingually). In 4 weeks I lost 28lbs. I kept it off for about 2 years, but gained it back through binge eating. However, what I found most astonishing were my legs, which have always been chunky even at peak fitness and ideal weight. At only moderately fit and 150 lbs, my legs were slimmer than at 140lbs with years of dance and yoga. My body shape DID change.
Mark Judd says
Hi Joe, I appreciate all of the information you share here at supplement geek. Without exception it is helpful when I am choosing to use or not use a supplement.
I recently lost 30 lbs using the HCG diet, and while I know that the reason I lost the weight was because my calories were significantly limited, I do believe that the HCG drops I used were helpful because they made the low cal diet bearable. I may be wrong I believe that what Albert Simeons originally posited was that the injections of HCG would decrease cravings. Right? He didn’t ever claim that the stuff would change the efficacy of a the diet, or that HCG would lead to weight loss by itself. Rather he claimed that HCG would make a diet of such limited calories easier to bear. I think that has been true in my case.
The studies showed that the groups using HCG lost approximately the same amount as did the group using a placebo. But I did not see any comments or anecdotes on how difficult it may have been to adhere to the requirements of the diet. Any thoughts?
Did I miss something
Joe says
Hi Mark, you are correct, Dr Simeons research appeared to note HCG injections helped when used with a low calorie diet. I believe you are correct about the cravings too. I’m not sure about the research and how hard it was to stick to the diet in the placebo groups. I’d have to go back and look at the research to see if any of the doctors mentioned this.
EJ says
Hello, Thanks for providing this run-down of information. I have done the drop program which mirrors the other principles of what I have read about the HCG injections program. Unfortunately I didn’t keep to really clean eating and increasing exercise again and have gained back basically all I lost – and gained differently than I think I have gained before. I’m mid-thirties and historically very active until the last 2 yrs due to multiple major injuries – which is where this all began.
My partner is about to start the HCG injections. I am heavily considering it as well – but I am more leary of “medicine” and consuming things which aren’t natural so I’m a little skeptical of the long term effects. I also know there are a couple periods of time in the coming 2-3 months which will present very difficult food situations due to international travel for work where options are mostly not in my control.
I’m concerned about a cycle of doing the programs and they work and then at some point having weight gain come back and more quickly than I have experienced before. Can anyone offer guidance about how it really affects you and longer term impacts? I am also in grad-school which hasn’t helped the situation the last 9 months – and makes everything harder with time dedicated to meal planning, scheduling specific eating times, and being stressed and not sleeping — things which from the previous programs are detrimental to hormone resetting and metabolism changes.
Thanks!
EJ says
Also to provide I was never in the category of losing #50+ pounds. At this point closer to 15 and body comp change/fat % reduction would bring me back to the solid place I was after the last program.
I recognize many people who look for and need these programs for health reasons and that my goals are different. It’s the metabolism re-set and quicker loss that is most attractive…to be able to maintain it all.
DJ says
I amiss beginning week 3 and rather drops are working for me (I even ate a few unapproved foods last week). I get them from my holistic doctor. I am excited. I am determined too. It’s not cheap.
Sean says
HCG is a placebo and this is coming from a person who’s used it successfully. Before going on the HCG diet, I’d lost 100+ lbs by using a regular high protein, low fat. I managed to gain about 15 lbs back because I’d gotten lazy in my maintenance and I used that as an opportunity to test out the HCG protocol. Again, it worked for losing the weight.
HOWEVER, I know that HCG is a placebo because if you were to study paleo/primal dieting, you’d see why the 500 calorie diet works and causes little to no hunger. Because of the diet’s low carb nature, hunger is eliminated after a few days. The 500 calorie diet is also somewhat ketogenic and when the body goes into ketosis, it uses fat as fuel. So, what people think is the effectiveness of HCG is actually their body having transitioned to converting fat to energy (Ketosis).
Donna M Gordon says
My question is did any of the studies talk about how the participants felt during the trial? The thing about HCG is that you are not hungry AT ALL. I don’t think any reputable HCG distributor is saying that the HCG injections will CAUSE you to lose weight.
What they do is cause you not to be hungry so you have more success in the VLC diet. Why is that? Is it because the HCG keeps your metabolism higher? Have any metabolic studies been done? I can’t find any. All I know is that FOR ME it worked when no other diet did.
Joe says
Hi Donna, I dont recall reading anything in the studies about HCG making people feel less hungry. I also dont believe Ive ever seen any study describing an increase in metabolism with HCG injections. If you ever find any, please do let me know.
Karissa Wiley says
How much weight did you lose and how quickly? I’m suppose to start on Tuesday and I’m worried I put put a large amount of money for nothing.
Joe says
Hi Karissa, will you keep us all posted on your progress? How are you getting your HCG? Is it from a doctor?
Cristiano says
There’s no study showing the difference beetween the kind of weight loss. Fat vs lean body mass. It’s clear to me that everyone that eats only 500 calories a day will lose weight nearly in the same proportion.
Sheri says
Drops are banned by FDA, FAKE, DO NOT BUY THEM ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
only injections help
Joe says
Sheri, I would agree that I dont think there is much if any HCG in the drops, I am still skeptical that even HCG injections help. I keep looking for new research on the injections and I cant find any.
Cbear says
I have lost weight with the drops. One company clearly sent me fakes once time. How to I know….. I was sick and starving. My body gets sick when I diet…. Always has. When I had real drops I wasn’t sick and near the end of my weight loss, people thought I was working out because my muscle tone was so defined.
So no way you take in 500 calories and not loose muscle! I could run so much farther as well. With other diets I had NO ENERGY to run. After I was done with the 500 calorie part is when i started running, not during. Plus face didn’t look thin like in other diets. Also, tell me this….. How the heck can a person go from eating 500 calories, go off the drops for 3 days… (Transition where you eat 500 but no drops for. 3 days) THEN go on to eat 2,000 a day and NOT GAIN back more than the loss over those 3 days?? Which was about 3 to 5 pounds…..And KEEP IT OFF??
Any other diet, if you go back to eating 2,000 to 2,500 calories you WILL gain the weight back!!! Duh! I actually had to take in close to 2,500 to keep from losing anymore weight. Yes, HCG drops do work…. Real ones.
I found taking the drops for FMS (minus the diet) helped with pain….. As in I could walk again! No lyrica drugs for me…. Oh wait now the FDA will attack HCG for that…. Give me a break. When I did injections one round….. No fricken difference! By the way… If your 3 main hormones are out of whack… HCG will NOT WORK for FMS.
Joanne says
Can someone tell me where you can purchase reputable hcg?
Joe says
Joanne, I assume you are talking about HCG drops which are taken by mouth yes? I dont feel there is anyone who can tell you how to find “reputable” HCG – in other words HCG that really contains HCG – without seeing the test results of independent labs to confirm whats in it.
Lisa says
You can drop some of the hcg injection into a home pregnancy test that you can purchase at any store and if the test if positive, then it contains HCG.
Joe Cannon says
Lisa, that is a REALLY GOOD TIP!!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!!! 🙂
keri says
doctoroz.com/videos/hcg-diet-research-study
Joe says
Keri, I didnt see where the HCG study was published. was it a published study? It looks like she is advocating HCG injections rather than HCG drops yes?
Keri says
I have done the hcg diet and had much success. I was not on a 550 calorie diet but rather a 750 calorie diet along with some exercise. (that being walking, yoga and a bit of interval training. No weights) I barely lost any muscle which I would have definitely lost without the hcg and just doing such a low calorie diet. You should check out some of Colin F. Waton’s information. His entire family has done the protocol and he is an hcg body coach.
hcgbodyforlife.com I lost 20 lbs in the 26 day protocol (158 lbs to 138 lbs) and I am a 5’6″, 32 year old woman. I believe it works if you can keep with it. Also, if I ate only 500 calories a day I would be famished. The hcg really does help to keep you feeling not hungry. Just my opinion as I know everyone is entitled to theirs.
Joe says
Keri, how do you know you didnt lose any muscle with HCG? Did you have any medical tests done?
Sean says
Joe
I have just finished the hcg diet and for the first time in 17 years (since my complete hysterectomy) I am at a normal BMI. I am a RN and have a good grasp on what I need to be doing to lose weight. Prior to the hcg I was working out 3x a week for 2 hours and eating a low carb diet with no results other than a bit of toning.
The low carb diet works well for my hypoglycemia, but produces very little weight loss. I did have a small amount of hunger at times while on the diet, but not much. I also never got the shakes from my blood sugar crashing. I was followed by a physician during this process, and had bloodwork done to test my thyroid, as well as my hormone levels. They also checked the basics; a CBC and BMP and did a complete health check up prior to the diet. I lost 42# in 40 days. I look and feel awesome! Of interest, my midsection which seemed to appear after menopause, was where I lost the weight first!
My waist is back and I am thrilled! I still work out and continue to follow a healthy diet, and am not gaining the weight back.
Joe says
Sean, that’s quite impressive. I’m glad it worked for you. Continued success! 🙂
Nancy Van says
My sister’s vet told her that HCG causes Cancer. I haven’t come upon any info that supports that theory. Has anyone??
Joe says
Nancy, Ive heard this also but am not aware of any human proof. That said I do not believe the HCG drops cause cancer because I dont believe they contain any HCG.
Anonymous says
@Joe. Thanks for your quick response. My doc recommended that I begin the HCG Boost Program (shots not drops) I have a consult with the nutritionist in his office every week. I am on a 1200 cal with supplement shakes and other vitamins. High Bp and diabetic and am very carefully monitoring vitals and weight between visits
Joe says
Anonymous, sounds good. I truly hope it works for you 🙂
Max says
Great article…both this one and the homeopathic one. Thanks for doing all this research for me! And you don’t even know me! I don’t expect “facts”, I’ll settle for information, and you supplied that.
Thanks again.
Joe says
Max, your very welcome. I’m happy I was able to help 🙂
Wendy says
Hey Joe, Excellent information here!!
I came across this product called Assist, that is supposedly based on similar principle, but is not hCG, but a homeopathic equivalent of the same..it has the resonant vibration of hCG, and mimics its effects in the body, ie helps with increasing metabolim, shedding fat, etc…but does not actually contain the hCG molecule itself. Have you heard of it? What is your take on it??
Joe says
Hi Wendy, glad you found me! I have not heard of “Assist” but I would need some research on it before I could give it some believability. Do they have any evidence that Assist raises HCG levels in humans? Id also be curious how they determined its “resonant vibration.” My instincts say its no different than other homeopathic HCG products but I’m always willing to look at any research they have.