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?
i’m starting the HCG diet shortly. i have a thyroid problem and i know what it feels like to feel like crap constantly. i have allergies as well from eating the horrid food we have here. I’m tired of what food is available in northern America and how everything is processed. i would love to live in Europe where quality is much higher. however, i am willing to try anything at this point for nothing could make me feel any worse.
I’ve done my research and EVEN if the drops don’t actually contain HCG, it boils down to psychology. I’m using the drops to break my bad habits and finally ween me off wheat forever. i will be using the wheat belly cookbook after the diet to maintain. whether or not the drops work, i shall see for myself. you cannot trust “dr oz” or even the FDA. they are all about money, politics and what benefits their stakeholders. there are severe ethical issues with the FDA as they approve proven dangerous drugs on numerous occasions.
Dr oz also has proven endorsements from companies and the FDA itself. what does that tell you? he will say whatever he is paid to say. there may some truth in what he says but it can also be deceptive marketing, for the majority of people will believe whatever anyone tells them. i prefer criticial thinking over following a mass group of sheep.
so what now? i think since everyone has the right and will to choose as they please, it should be up to the individual to try it out and see what comes of it. of course, if you have a serious disease or long term illness you need to consult healthcare professionals – and not just one, get many opinions, even those from natural health care providers.
When i use to eat clean and not a whole lot of calories, combined with yoga (yogis adapt this diet as well and lifestyle), i felt AMAZING. sure, i had side effects like headaches and stomach ache sometimes from not eating huge intake of calories (which is what i was use to). but, all my test results and physical came back better then ever. other benefits: contentment, spirital enlightenment, weight loss, flexibility, regular bathroom trips, regular periods, glowing skin and no gas/bloating/stomach problems. since then, i obviously got addicted back into our unhealthy society of crappy food and have suffered the consequences LONG ENOUGH. if i could feel like that again, minus the headache and occasional stomach ache, i would pay anything for it.
the real research comes from actual individual experience. case studies and so forth, based purely on science can be biased and misleading. everyone will react differently. a lot of it also has to do with psychology – if you are not in the right state of mind, you will not be successful. in fact you can start making up side effects and prevent yourself from losing. therefore, talk to as many people as you can who have done the hcg diet and get real life reviews. not those from companies, case studies, the television, etc.
IE – dr oz say’s it’s bad. but marie claire magazine featured a real review of one of their editors who tried it and LOVED it. so, what do you pick? exactly. rely only on yourself.
Kat, I use published peer reviewed research as my litmus test for supplements because it is the best tool I have to analyze supplements and their claims. is it perfect no but its better than other things out there. Yes no study is perfect but if enough of them is done – and are well conducted – we can at the least see trends. The trend when it comes to HCG diet is that its the starvation that causes wt loss not the HCG. that said I am intrigued by the testimonials and so that’s why I call on some scientist to do a newer, better study to see whats going on. This would be a hard study to do but, it could be done by weight loss clinics that have hospital resources. I dont know when that study will occur but I hope somebody does it.
For what its worth I do hope it works for you.
i understand your opinion and reasoning and by no means am I trying to say you are completely wrong without being open minded and up for good debate. however, i read through the comments and noticed many comments claiming they have experimented with HCG free and HCG diets with the SAME diet, same calories and have seen TWO DIFFERENT results.
the first one from the starvation diet without HCG – headaches, weight loss would stop after a week or two (slow metabolism), stomach aches, general feeling of crap. with hcg – no headaches, no side effects, rapid weight loss.
IF hcg has NOTHING to do with it, and the diet ONLY works because it’s starvation then why would there be a vast amount of different results when both are put to the test? it makes little sense.
if in fact, hcg is being injected and it’s the accurate, real hormone, then yes, it MUST in fact have SOME effect on the human body. perhaps the homeopathic version is only psychological, but even then, there is an effect that is taking place that allows for this kind of behavior. the body adapts and responds to what it’s given.
if the experiment is done by several hundred people with the same result, how does hcg NOT work?
kat, there is a part of me who feels maybe the HCG is acting as a kind of crutch, something people can have faith in while they are dieting with 500 calories per day. I know there are those who don’t want to hear that and it’s just one mans opinion, but I am basing this on what I have seen as far as the research is concerned. That said, I am VERY open minded as to new research on the HCG diet being conducted.
Considering the popularity that HCG diet has garnered, I am very disappointed in the scientific community for not doing any new research. For me, its not enough to see doctors on TV talking about how it doesn’t work – because all they are doing is basing their statements on the same research I looked it. They need to take the time needed – maybe 4-8 weeks – to test HCG + diet vs diet only in group of at least 50 people. This is not a hard study to do.
Until I see this type of research done, I’ll remain open minded on the issue.
Found your page through Bill Sukala’s page. Just recently quit the hCG diet (Omnitrition’s version) due to the side effects. Thanks to you and others, I decided to share my story: squidoo.com/unsafe_hcg_diet
Weight started creeping back up once I quit so I am actually doing the hCG diet sans the hCG now! Because I had a very difficult time with the diet though, I decided to use a bit of common sense. I’ve read that you can actually double the calories and still have the same loss. Well, I decided to stick to about 1200 to 1300 calories this time.
I still have the basic food list but, again tweaking it a bit, I’ve found pages where people have posted cheat foods that still work for the hCG diet. Okay, added those in. Did the two-day loading just like the hCG diet and am on day three of my “Phase 2”. Again, no hormones but, so far results are impressive.
I’ve lost the same amount in three days that I lost the first three days of the hCG diet. I’ll be sharing my results on that page I posted if this continues to work. I really truly believe the hCG thing is a scam now. It wasn’t worth what it was doing to my health. Thank you so much for your page!
Why does no one who has done the HCG diet speak of a typical days intake of food? Exactly what did you eat to only consume 500 calories?
I’m off the diet because after a month, it was just causing problems but a typical day looked like this: breakfast: baked apple with Stevie and cinnamon. Lunch: 4 ounces of chicken (or some other meat) with 4 ounces of cucumbers or homemade salsa or something. Dinner: the same only a different variation.
You are allowed two ‘grains’ (i.e. Grissini breadstick or melba toast round) and one more fruit (apple, orange or strawberries). What really got me is that I was only eating about 500 calories a day. When somebody stalls, they tell them to avoid oranges, tomatoes and the grains so that cuts down even further what you can eat.
Honestly, I don’t even believe the drops are hCG after everything I’ve been hearing. The hCG drop Ingredients list has ‘proprietary blend 120ml’ listed. What is that?
Kay, interesting question I am not sure what the proprietary blend is?
I have no idea. I’d love to know though. I did find this comment online:
“I used to use Omnitrition – even went to the national convention in Sacramento years ago. It was there, I vowed never to use it again. At that time they had an ephedrine derivative in the tea and the president of Omni said not to tell anyone. When asked about heart patients possibly dying if they try it, the President said, if you mention that heart patients shouldn’t use it, then people will be scared to buy it. Just don’t say anything and let the heart patients take their chances – it probably won’t hurt them to take one dose.
He put profit above people – pure and simple. Until then, I loved the product, but when I found out it had an ephedrine derivative I was shocked. We had continually been told there was no ephedrine in it and at the convention he said it wasn’t a lie – it was a derivative, which is not the same thing, but if people found out they wouldn’t want the product.
Simply put – I will always go to a company that puts people’s health above profit.
People lose weight with Omni – but at what cost?”
and so I wonder just what they are hiding in their drops? You think there is any way to get these drops tested?
I apologize I need to clarify further about the drops after reading that back to myself.
Since the fda ban, no drops contain hcg. And beforehand there were two types of the drops. Homeopathic and I cannot recall the exact name of the other but it was generally prescribed or imported. The ones doctor oz mentions is the drops that you speak of. That have been diluted over and over to the point the have no hcg in them.
The drops I ordered are the old product you used to import or have prescribed however did contain hcg comparable to the injections. The kind Dr oz is talking about is a different product. And is generally the only kind now available. However the kind containing hcg is still available through import, or from non regulated companies in the US. Or private sellers. To be honest this is information I cannot prove until I do the tests myself on this product when it arrives. I will update you with more information when I have some to give.
Right now the only true information I trust is what I will be obtaining myself.
Tampaanonymous, because of the problems about importing supplements from other countries I can only cross my fingers that it really does have what they say it has.
I’m getting my muscle loss monitored by 2 separate physicians, I’m also asking my doctor what he can do to give me a second opinion. The drops I bought are an older product from an older market, I will be testing them upon arrival with a pregnancy test as instructed by those who spend much more than I on endeavors such as this one.
The drops I bought are not from a fda regulated source. The reviews claim the product does indeed contain hcg, however I am not blind to the idea that people believe what they want to, and will be testing that fact for myself before using the product, products such as the one I bought are sometimes held in customs because of the idea it contains an illegal hormone, however during my times on the forums I find that this is quite rare.
I find I better enjoy the idea of proving results to myself, so the “scientific study” will be performed by myself, two physicians, and my personal doctor. As well as my personal trainer if he agrees to take part.
I will update you on results of my tests for the hormone upon arrival. I believe that the pregnancy test is sufficient proof it contains hcg, if it does not I will promptly discard the product and continue my search.
I am honestly not worried about who is right or correct on this specific topic, I simply am as curious as you as to why the results of such have not been detailed in said clinical studies and will be taking part in a journey to find the truth. Nothing is more confusing to me than info that seems to jump back and fourth in accuracy and legality without any change in available information.
At the first sign of bad side effects (listed in multiple place relating to starvation) which are claimed to be non existent I will be removing the diet from my list of mysteries and stating it to be fraudulent but cannot accurately do so without gaining the information for myself, first hand.
Of you have any tips that may aid my progress in this study as I have not performed one such as this before, please feel free to help out as I am sure you are as curious for this information as I and lots of others are.
Thank you for replying promptly to this, from what I understand my information is accurate and of so, I will be able to supply to a social site such as YouTube the information we have been lacking for a few years.
I again want to clarify however, that the bottle claims to contain as much of the actual hormone as an injection. The hormone is listed even in correct dosage in active ingredients. From what I understand, products such as the drops you speak of claim no hormone of any kind right on the box or bottle. There are versions of the drops that contain hcg, they are just much, much harder to obtain now that the fda is cracking down on the hormone, very few places exist to obtain the ones that still have hcg, even they cost 400 dollars for a 60 day run. I thing I just happened upon a site that had the old, non updated product.
I apologize if any typos or grammatical inaccuracies can be found in this post. It was made on my phone and auto-correct can be very agitating.
Tampaanonymous, it sounds like you are doing your best to cover all your bases and I like the idea of checking for HCG with a pregnancy test. I’m not sure how much HCG is in a shot but I assume your doctor can tell you this. The pregnancy test might tell you if there is HCG, but I don’t think it can tell you how much HCG is in the drops. Either way, I’ll be interested in learning about your progress. I do hope it works.
Hi Joe, this has been going on for a while. But let me explain a problem with one of the things you are stating. The hcg drops you find online that clearly state they have the hcg hormone in them. Do indeed have hcg, if they didn’t, you could sue their pants off. I just ordered drops that contain as much hcg as the shots from a trusted, common place…amazon, the reviews claim it contains the legitimate hcg. Hcg can be put on a prego test, if it comes back positive, it has hcg. People do it to test the product all the time since the hcg fda scare.
I mean no offense in saying this, but this is two days research.
I will trust many many people who swear by it, for a few reasons. Let me explain them.
1, the fda is backing a dangerous weight loss program called alli. They themselves have done studies proving it is dangerous. Yet it remains on the market.
To gain lots of small info about this diet Joe, you should read product reviews. I made sure to read over 500, and also dive into multiple forum, asking questions about this diet.without that I would have thought as well that the drops were fraudulant. The drops that contain no hcg state clearly on the box they are hormone free. The ones that do indeed contain do not, however are very hard to find. Especially below 300 dollars.
I will be monitored for muscle loss during my hcg diet. I am 21 now and 220lbs. I want to loose inches, could care less for the actual weight loss, as ill gain my pounds back through weight training after the loss.
I will attempt to make it a point to reply to you hear to update my progress. But I also will point you to my YouTube channel where I will be doing a weekly blog like sophisticated mama to show my results. However I must state, now that hcg for weight loss is illegal and no longer found in stores, what most people are taking are hormone free and that will likely be all that is available to them forever now that it has been made illegal. I will be sad to state at the end of my project that it worked without muscle loss, as that means the fda just made the 500 calorie diet hcg plan much, much more dangerous.
The actual hcg drops arrive at the end of Feb.
Tampaanonymous, I appreciate your passion for this. I’m curious:
1. who is doing the research on you? who is monitoring for muscle loss? A university? Are you part of a HCG research study? How many others are involved?
2. You said hcg drops did in fact contain HCG but how do you know this? Have you seen any proof? I’m more than willing to look at any peer reviewed evidence that has showed HCG drops really do contain HCG – esp any that says they have as much as a shot of HCG.
Even doctor Oz has said that HCG drops are not worth it.
As I understand it, the FDA regulates homeopathic products differently than prescription drugs or supplements. Here is a link to the FDA page about homeopathic products.
Here is another link to the FDA that discusses homeopathic products and regulations.
Regardless of who is right, I’m really curious if you are taking part in a scientific stud about the effectiveness of HCG and weight loss. Ive said for a long time that Id like to see some new research on HCG drops and weight since the last studies were done decades ago
I lost 35 pounds doing the HCG diet. I did a 41 day protocol and then a 23 day protocol. I did injections and followed Dr. Simeon’s instructions to the letter. His book can by found by Googling “Pounds and Inches”. Initially, I had lost 30 pounds by counting calories and had simply stalled.
My doctor suggested this diet, saying that I really needed to get my weight down and I could view it as “emergency” and go for a drastic fix. Because I have Hashimoto’s, my weight loss was extremely slow, and lower on the HCG diet than for most people. That said, this was a fantastic program for me. I completed the program two years ago and have maintained a weight loss of 65 pounds.
It isn’t easy, but I would like to make a couple of comments about Dr. Simeon’s protocol. First, he was successful in helping thousands of people lose weight. It seems that there are a lot of folks cashing in on this diet and are putting their own spin on it, as if they know how to make it work better.
I am concerned that varying calories, using “homeopathic” drops, etc. may skew the results of this wonderful protocol. Secondly, Dr. Simeon included in the diet a rather lengthy transition period. The first six weeks one adds fats and oils. The second six weeks, one gradually adds carbohydrate.
Additionally, there are instructions for what to do if you are over your target weight when you do your daily weigh in. Those additional weeks taught me a lot about how I was processing food. In my case, I have found that I need to minimize carbohydrate intake. No problem. I feel great and would urge anyone who has a lot of weight to lose, to consider the real, original HCG protocol. Read Dr. Simeon’s book!
This is a very interesting article and I am impressed with your unbiased way of presenting the information. From my understanding anyone will lose weight on a low calorie diet. However, the difference with HCG is that the weight is specifically fat loss rather than the typical fat, muscle and water loss. HCG forces the body to hold onto healthy tissue for the development of the baby, and thus turns to using reserve fat stores first for nutrition. Thus, all patients on a starvation diet will lose the same amount of weight, the big question is WHAT is the weight?
Kim, thanks much. I would just like to see some good evidence that HCG causes fat loss and not fat, muscle and water loss. I cant find that proof. My hope is somebody finds it for me so I can look it over.
Linda,
Where did you get your HCG drops from? I am looking for a reputable place to get it. I paid $1000 for my doctor administered shots for 23 days. I cannot afford to go another round with this kind of money but the diet is working out so I do want to do it for one more round.
Amy, even though I remain skeptical on HCG, even doctor oz has said that HCG drops were “junk.”
Hi Joe, It sounds like your argument against HCG is the fact that a 500 calorie diet returns the same results as HCG plus 500 calorie diet. I’ve recently completed the HCG diet and I am a big fan. With the “other” restricted calorie diets I noticed negative impact on my focus, mood and overall well being. With HCG I experienced an overwhelming sense of well being and felt GREAT!
I think the medical research has missed one key point. What about hormonal benefits when dieting. Isn’t adiponectin increased with a restricted diet. It is also produced during pregnancy. Therefore a 500 cal/day diet without HCG or with HCG will stimulate this hormone. What about other hormones that HCG and a 500 cal/day diet stimulate? Does HCG make it easier to be successful? Does HCG really get to fat stores?
Does HCG protect muscle? I believe after my personal experience and applying logic to the HCG program. Here are my conclusions. The HCG hormone made it possible for me to be successful eating 500 calories a day. I NEVER have felt better. I felt balanced and had an overwhelming sense of well being.
I believe the combination of HCG and other hormones that are triggered by a low calorie diet work with your body to produce great results. Do people feel the same without HCG? HCG works for me!!! I highly recommend it!!!
Linda, it is quite possible the medical community has missed something when it comes to HCG and weight loss. I dont remember seeing any study that looked at adiponectin and HCG so thats an interesting observation. So my questions is, why has nobody in the HCG medical community shown any proof that HCG (shots or drops) alter hormones – adiponectin -or otherwise?
As Ive said to others who have said HCG worked for them, Im really glad you have found something that works for you. My frustration is when medical doctors who prescribe shots (or drops) of HCG without providing ANY medical research to prove that they do anything.
I’ll say it again, doctors who “prescribe” HCG for weight loss make A LOT OF MONEY doing this stuff. How come none of them has spent any of that money to prove that it actually works? Doctors, are, after all, scientists. Why do they deny the scientific method to prove it works? Testimonials should only be the beginning of knowledge – they should not be the foundation by which they do things.
For me the HCG diet (esp with drops) makes no sense but Im very open to the possibility that this is not a placebo effect. I would just like to see a good research study published to tell me otherwise. This would not be expensive. It could easily be done at a university and only take a few months at most. Linda, I think we both deserve that research.
The purpose of the HCG drops is to help curb your appetite and to take off inches in your problem spots. My cousin is doing the diet right now and has lost almost 70 lbs total. She is on the 2nd week of the second round…she has done excellent with it. She gets 550 calories a day and says she forgets to eat sometimes.
Missy, Im glad she is losing weight but I still ask the question, how? How does a liquid that is diluted to the point that it contains zero HCG curb appetite? Also, how does HCG curb appetite? Even Dr Oz has said that HCG drops were “junk.”
dr. oz says many things but he is endorsed many times and sometimes even what he says is a load of bull.
Kat, I think when Dr Oz talks about supplements that he gives easy answers to complex questions. I think he doesn’t this because he wants to help and give people something tangible to hold on to when they try to lose weight. I think problems arise when people only take the supplement, thinking it will cause the weight to melt off, which likely will not happen.
I just paid for the 20 day version of this program out of sheer curiosity. I’m interested in finding a lab to test the stuff in the little vial to see if it contains anything but saline solution.
If in fact it does contain hcg, I’m wondering if this will have any noticeable side effects. My preliminary reading indicates it may increase fertility (?) No, I’m NOT planning on this side effect, but again, I’m curious.
Heather, Id be very curious what your laboratory test finds. Please keep me posted.
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/does-hcg-diet-work-pt-2
Here is a link to the show. I don’t know how you would get the actual printed study. You might have to write to the producers to get it.
Cheryl, I looked at the dr video clip you provided. dr oz called it a “pilot study” (which means small study / beginner, fact finder study) but its not a peer reviewed study. dr Emma only provided data on 12 people which is very little. Dr Emma is a doctor – a scientist. I cannot understand why she would publish no research on HCG diets. She has the patients and the background to do this. so why not?
the video shows people lost 11 lbs fat and 2 lbs muscle but Dr oz does not tell us how body composition was measured. The way that data is collected/measured is crucial to the believability of the results.
I also noticed that the guy giving the counter argument said he only “briefly” could review dr emmas data. That makes me wonder if the dr oz staff gave the data to him just before the show, which, if thats the case, its not right.
I was pleased that Dr Oz said “HCG drops do not work” and are a “waste of money”. I agree with that. I also agree that a fresh look needs to be taken on HCG injections for weight loss.
My question for the scientific weight loss community – including doctors who prescribe HCG injections for weight loss – is why has nobody done a peer reviewed study recently?
I wish I was in the audience so I could ask Dr Emma some questions.
Interesting results but I see no mention of the study Dr. Oz referred to on one of his programs where they studied FAT loss not just weight loss. HCG seems to result in more fat loss and less muscle loss. If you can find it you might want to add that one to your site. Those of us who have used HCG use it for reasons other than greater weight loss.
Dr. Simeon felt it resets your set point weight. For me the main reason to use it is the reduction of hunger making it possible to continue on 500 calories per day which without HCG is extremely difficult. There is no magic pill but this tool has helped me in the past.
Cheryl, I cant locate the HCG study Dr Oz mentioned. I’d love to see it and add it to my review if anybody can find it.
I have done the HCG diet. It worked for me. I went through a clinic and was supervised by a doctor. It was the injections, not the drops, by the way. However, I didn’t feel like I was never hungry and full of enery. Food was all I thought about and I was quite miserable.. But it did work.
I twas great having everyone tell me how great I looked… After the diet, I didn’t exactly watch what I ate and I still didn’t gain back any weight.. I only gained weight back once I got careless and let myself go again. But the diet did work wonders for me, and had I kept some darn self-control, it could have stayed off. But that was my own fault.
I’ve actually done the HCG injections/Diet Plan while taking Phentermine. Though, my diet plan allowed me 1000-1200 calories daily. It was a high protein diet and it was really hard for me to get 800 calories down a day. The phentermine curbed my cravings. I took only phentermine for the first month and I only lost 1 in my stomach.
The 2nd month I took phentermine and started the HCG shots (2 weekly) and I lost 3 inches in my stomach. I continued Phentermine, Diet Plan & HCG for 6 months and I lost 65 pounds and 15 inches in my stomach.
The pills and diet helped me lose the pounds and the HCG shots helped me lose the inches. Taking the shots alone will not work. I have been off the diet, pills and injections for 1 1/2 years now and I’ve only gained 3 pounds and kept the inches off. I eat about 1500 calories daily with occasional cheat day. I work out 4-5 times weekly. So I consider myself a HCG diet success story.
I would recommend it if you’re really determined to lose the weight. It really kickstarted my journey. I’ve yo-yo dieted my whole life. Most diets worked for me, but they weren’t long term and I can’t eat the same weight loss bar or shake for the rest of my life.
Within 2 weeks of ending other diets, the pounds would start packing back on. Especially NutriSystem. I gained more weight after quitting than I lost the 6 months I was on it. Anyway, talked enough. I hope this gives a little more insight on the HCG diet.
Jessica thanks for sharing your weight loss journey!
@Joe – yeah, they should be shielded, but sadly, because of grants and such, they are often compromised as well. Not always, true, but often.
@Average Joe – yeah, I’ve read that, but IIRC, they didn’t evaluate whether the studies actually replicated Dr. Simeons’ original setup re food and dosages. And, to my way of thinking, not replicating the original premise when testing the ‘validity’ invalidates the study results……
A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 1995 reviewed 8 controlled and 16 uncontrolled clinical trials concerning the HCG diet. The full text of the article can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1365103/pdf/brjclinpharm00004-0042.pdf
The endocrine society also has a ‘myth and fact’ sheet on HCG which folks should read as well. http://www.hormone.org/Public/upload/MFS-hCG-Diet-12-7v2.pdf
Joe thanks for mentioning those. Ive added them to my files 🙂
You’re welcome Joe. I agree, a valid randomized study would be great. But honestly, it seems counterproductive for big pharma/the medical community, because if it did prove to be valid, there would be billions lost by the weight loss and bariactric industry, and many jobs lost. It isn’t economically sound to have a healthy populace, and in this country, it’s all about the profit. Sadly, healthy people don’t appear to be profitable. Sick people create more revenue, so why research cures when it is so much more money to research treatments for symptoms instead.
Sad, I agree. I’m afraid that we’ll not see significant research in curing obesity anytime soon. It just isn’t in the best interests of those who make their living selling us treatments for symptoms instead.
Vicki, its a good point about the money being in the medicine (rather than the cure). College professors, who in theory, should be shielded from the money aspect of things, might be good people to do this research. They have the resources and they also have access to a large population of college students to take part.
Hi Joe,
I just wanted to add that I never did this diet for 40 days. I did it for 21, then did a second round for another 21. I also get the vibrational hcg, not the homeopathic. I was very happy with my results and am now on another round. I love the hCG plan by Dr. Simeons. It’s very specific and you know exactly what to do. There’s no guessing, which I really like. Also my energy level was fantastic. I’ve tried to eat “not very much” but always gave in. I could never eat less food without these drops.