HCG Diet Popular, Despite Lack of Evidence

Although the HCG diet has been gaining popularity, there is a lack of evidence that it helps promote weight loss or fat redistribution, reduce feelings of hunger or improve feelings of well-being.

The diet involves restricting daily calories and receiving injections of a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved prescription HCG for undescended and underdeveloped testes in young males and ovulation induction in females. However, HCG is not FDA-approved for weight loss.

The FDA, the American Bariatric Association and the American Medical Association have issued statements that the use of HCG as a dietary aid has not been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of obesity. In January 2011, the FDA warned consumers that over-the-counter homeopathic HCG products are fraudulent and illegal.

For more information about HCG, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

References
Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). www.fda.gov

http://www.depsyl.com/

http://back2basicnutrition.com/

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/