I read an article recently stating that hCG doesn’t work any better for weight loss than a placebo, and there are serious, even DEADLY negative side effects of HCG. I won’t link to the article, but instead will quote the relevant portions:
“depending on what type of HCG you use, and how you use it, the chances of experiencing one of the negative effects (which obviously range in severity) vary from 30% to an insane 45%”
Here is HIS list of ‘documented negative side-effects’:
- Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome (OHSS) – which is a life-threatening condition
- Arterial Thromboembolism – another potentially life-threatening condition
- Blood clots
- Risk of multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.)
- Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men (gynaecomastia)
- Over stimulation of the ovaries causing production of many ova (eggs) in women
- Acne
- Tiredness
- Changes in mood
- Irritation in area of use
- Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling (edema)
- Hair loss
- Prostate hypertrophy
If you are considering the hCG Diet for weight loss and read the above mentioned article stating that you could die from hCG, then certainly you should stop and take notice, right?
Well, that’s what I did. A lengthy email correspondence ensued where the author repeated his claim that there are serious negative side-effects from hCG and it doesn’t work for weight loss and the hCG works only as well as a placebo (which he says has been proven by numerous studies and the FDA) so why take the risk to lose a little weight?
“If HCG didn’t work and had no negative effects, then there would be no big deal; you could use it for whatever placebo value it may offer without worry or risk. But HCG does have negative effects – some of which are potentially life-threatening”
So, when I read this article I posted a comment on the page which, incidentally, he never published and perpetually awaits ‘moderation’ by the author, and instead I received a lengthy email from the author.
I asked, REPEATEDLY, that he provide the documentation he claimed existed to back up these statements made in his article. He couldn’t or wouldn’t (for whatever reason) provide any. He simply repeated “All drugs have side-effects, so if there is any risk you shouldn’t take it for weight loss”.
Of all the people sharing their hCG experiences in forums, blogs, etc. around the internet, how come I have never see anything like what this author is claiming?
Out of tens of thousands of people taking hCG for weight loss, if 30-45% are experience negative side-effects, how come I don’t read about them?
OK, so some people have a little hair loss or get a headache, but this is a very small percentage and the benefits outweigh these effects in almost all cases according to the people reporting them. Additionally, the quality and source of the hCG used is suspect, since a LOT of people are getting their HCG from overseas, or taking Oral hCG or hemeopathic HCG (which don’t work) or other factors that can explain these side-effects. (Remember: unless your hCG comes from a US-based pharmacy and is certified pure, is refrigerated properly, and is injected, you are most likely experiencing a placebo effect anyway).
I get a headache if I don’t drink coffee every day, so does that mean I should live without coffee for the rest of my life? I’ll take the coffee, thanks. And I’ll take the 1/2 to 2 lbs. per day fat loss the hCG Diet gives me.
Regarding the Placebo Effect of hCG:
I pointed out to the author (and this was the point of my comment he never published) that double-blind studies conducted showing no difference in weight loss between placebo groups and the hCG groups had ALL altered Dr. Simeons’ original protocol (you can read my related post on this subject here: HCG Info – Just the Facts Please)
So does the hCG Diet work or not? Or is it simply a ‘placebo effect’ as this author claims?
From his article:
“HCG has been repeatedly shown to be ineffective for increasing weight-loss and is “largely rejected,” by authors of these studies, for administration for weight-loss.”
and…
“We all know that diets simply don’t work; and as soon as you stop starving yourself, your body will replace what it’s lost with a vengeance. In other words, your body will regain the lost weight and add even more weight to provide a buffer should you decide to starve yourself again.”
What is completely ignored by this author is the fact that people that have done the hCG Diet do NOT gain the weight back and that the diet DOES work virtually 100% of the time.
This is what one person posted regarding this in one of the forums I visit frequently:
“For all those people that say eating 500 calories a day will make you lose weight you’re ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. Here’s the catch though, and I’m speaking from personal experience having gone a couple months as a 17 year old, having nothing but 1 bowl of chicken broth and about 4 crackers each day, this is what happens: - NOTHING for the first 2 months, except dark circles under my eyes, light headiness, mood swings, massive hunger pains, super dry skin etc. Maybe if I held out for my 3rd month something would have happened. Oh yeah – I also did that with exercising twice a day. Not a pound lost.
Here’s what happens when you eat 500 calories a day and take HCG – 25 pounds off in one month, plus haven’t gained anything back in a year. No headaches, no hunger pains, no light heads, no dark circles under the eyes etc. etc. etc. “
Placebo, huh?
Sorry, I’m not buying it. If the author would provide documentation backing up his claims, fine. Short of that, the evidence is OVERWHELMING that the hCG Diet works.
What are YOUR thoughts?
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6 responses so far ↓
Jennifer // February 16, 2009 at 9:34 am
I have been dieting since I was 12 and I have tried absolutely everything known to man. When I was 17 I became slightly anorexic, I would only eat a slice of bread or two saltines per day for many weeks and during that time I didn’t even lose weight. It was the most miserable time of my life. I was tired, sick feeling and unable to concentrate.
Since then I’ve tried everything, including 45 min. of cardio and 30 min. weight training 5x per week at the gym, while following the Zone diet or some other low carb, high protein meal plan. This yielded a weight loss of 2 lb. for the MONTH!
Finally, I found out about HCG and followed the HCG program to the “T” as outlined by Dr. Simmeons. My results were amazing, it was almost too good to be true. I lost 24 lb. during my 40 day cycle and I never did one ounce of exercise. The only time I felt hunger was during the first week. The same thing would happen if someone did a detox diet to rid their body of processed foods and chemicals, you will notice until it’s all done being released.
After the first week on HCG I had no hunger and sometimes I didn’t even want to eat my entire 500 calories. When I did eat, I got completely full and satisfied. It has been the miracle I’d always been searching for!
There has never been “proven” or “statistical” information regarding HCG being bad for you. It is a hormone naturally produced by pregnant women and the amount taken for the diet is around 1/100 of the amount pregnant women produce daily. The only people who say it doesn’t work for weight loss are disbelievers and people who have never tried it. I myself was skeptical at first, but once I saw the scale move and my hunger decrease I knew it wasn’t another diet scam.
Linda // March 24, 2009 at 3:03 am
No kidding! The real scam artists are those in the FDA that actually have some very uninformed and uneducated people missing the boat because they believe the FDA. I just finished my first round of HcG (23 days sublingual) and have lost 18.2 lbs. and 15.75 inches overall (6 of which was around the chest – bye bye back boobs!). I am on the maintenance now for another 16 days, then round two. This truly is what is desperately needed for the obesity epidemic out there, but that might put the FDA and lots of drs. out of business; Heaven Forfend!!!
Shari // March 30, 2009 at 4:21 am
I start the 3rd day tomorrow morning and I am totally psyched! I cannot wait for the losses to begin. I don’t care if it is all psychsocial or not, I have had too many friends use the Hcg and lose the weight. It is very hard for me to follow diets, even the South Beach, Atkins, or just cutting my current diet by the recommended 500 calories. I get hungry or focused on the food, or start to crave something! It all goes downhill from there. I am truly amazed by the results I have seen with my own eyes and by the stories I have heard with my own ears just sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room and talking to other patients. I am with the other believers right now, no matter the cost/physiological workings/psychological workings, I am doing this. Already I feel better, because I know that even if all I lose is 20 lbs, I will be 20 lbs lighter than when I started.
Sarah // May 25, 2009 at 10:14 am
To quote your what you have printed above:
”
Here’s what happens when you eat 500 calories a day and take HCG – 25 pounds off in one month, plus haven’t gained anything back in a year. No headaches, no hunger pains, no light heads, no dark circles under the eyes etc. etc. etc. “
Placebo, huh? ”
That’s exactly how I feel with what you are saying about the Oral Sublingual HCG. It has worked wonders and I feel amazing! Not hungry, tired, irritable nothing. I am a walking advertisement for it! And I have done my 3 weeks of maintenence plus some and am ready for a second round.
So, I ask you, what is your evidence that the Oral HCG is a placebo?
hcgdietinfo // May 25, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I have already posted about how to prove to YOURSELF if it’s a placebo affect or not. If you want evidence, test your urine with Ketostix and Albustix to see if you are in fact metabolizing fat or protein. Read this post: Proof Homeopathic HCG is a Scam
Janette // November 1, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I am soo amazed by the Hcg effects. Everyday when I get on the scales and I am down a pound, I am so excited. Those who have any negitive things to say obviously have not had to lose weight and haven’t tried the plan. It works and it is crazy. Ya, they are right 500 calories, but there is no way I could have stayed on 500 calories without Hcg. It works! I say to them “try it 1st before all the negitive comments”