Why You Should Avoid Using hCG for Weight Loss in Scottsdale, AZ?

Out of all the quick-fix diets out there, the hCG for weight loss procedure holds the first place, and serious research has proven that it does much more harm than good.

You might find encouraging and positive reviews of hCG for weight loss only in beauty centers, hospitals, esthetic clinics that sell this kind of service and are ready to compromise their professionalism for profit.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns about its side effects and regards it as a potentially dangerous, wrongfully claimed ‘diet product’. 

The hCG diet originated in 1954 by Dr. Simeons, and claims that hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) will facilitate weight loss. By taking hCG shots and consuming around 500kcal/day you will lose up to 1 pound of fat mass per day, not feel hungry and redistribute the fat mass in your body.

There is a lot to unpack here, from the hCG shots and what it does to our body, the extremely low-calorie intake, the feeling of hunger, etc. 

First, let’s understand the basics of this ‘miraculous’ procedure.

Debunking How hCG for Weight Loss Procedure Works

The hormone hCG is produced in women during the first three months of pregnancy. It stimulates the production of other essential pregnancy hormones, enables the body to store fat, and helps fetus development. 

The hCG practitioners claim that this procedure is ‘natural’ since hCG is a hormone found in the human body. Yes, it is natural, but only for women who have a fetus in their womb.

The hCG procedure for weight loss is divided into three phases:

1. Loading phase. Eat plenty of high-calorie foods for two days while taking hCG.
2. Weight loss phase. Eat only 500 calories per day for 3 to 6 weeks while taking hCG. The diet consists of eating two meals per day — usually lunch and dinner with heavy dietary restrictions.
3. Maintenance phase. Stop taking hCG. Steadily start eating more food while avoiding sugar and starch for three weeks.

People are encouraged to repeat this cycle until they reach the desired weight or (most likely) break down. The newer approach to this diet enables a higher calorie deficit of around 1000-1300 kcal per day, which is still much less than the number of calories recommended for women and men daily. 

The hCG diet also claims to redistribute body fat from the hips, thighs, and stomach. Besides not having any scientific study that proves this, science has shown that it is impossible to reduce fat in certain areas of our body through an injection, rather than from decreasing your body fat mass in general.

Is it Legal to Take hCG for Weight Loss?

Homeopathic products at the drugstore don’t contain hCG in considerable amounts.  Real hCG injections are fertility or hormone medication, and they are available only with a doctor’s prescription. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), does not recommend taking hCG shots as a weight loss product. 

In July 2020, they announced that “HCG is not approved without a prescription and/or for weight loss.” 

Side effects of following the hCG procedure include fatigue, depression, headaches, faints. These symptoms don’t necessarily come from the shots, but rather from the extreme calorie deficit.

A study was conducted to see the efficacy of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on weight reduction in obese women. Each patient was given the same diet, but some of them were not injected with hCG. 

As a result, there was no difference between the two groups in the number of injections received, weight loss, or hunger ratings. To sum it up, HCG does not enhance the effectiveness of a rigidly imposed regimen for weight reduction. injected with hCG. 

As a result, there was no difference between the two groups in the number of injections received, weight loss, or hunger ratings. To sum it up, HCG does not enhance the effectiveness of a rigidly imposed regimen for weight reduction.

Is the HCG diet safe and effective?

As cited by FDA, the hCG diet and shots are neither safe nor effective.

A study of 2016 classifies the hCG diet as completely scientifically unfounded and potentially harmful.

As found in a Mayo Clinic article, hCG usage is linked to a possible increase in cancer risk. Since it encourages the production of androgen cells, it might result in the growth of certain types of cancers. 

The list of side effects is long:

• leg swelling, shortness of breath 
• gallstone formation
• irregular heartbeat
• limited intake of vitamins and minerals
• imbalance of electrolytes
• fatigue
• irritability
• restlessness
• depression
• fluid buildup (edema)
• swelling of the breasts in boys and men (gynecomastia)

Overweight and obese people tend to fall for this quick fix, but they are the group for which hCG procedure gets even riskier with side effects of blood clots forming and blocking blood vessels. And the list of scientific studies goes on and on…

So, taking hCG shots doesn’t facilitate weight loss in any way, nor does it take away the feeling of hunger.

The whole procedure is just a placebo effect.

Being in such an extreme deficit is what brings weight loss.

There is nothing wrong with the desire to lose weight and look for the best, quickest options. But you shouldn’t compromise your health. There are better and more sustainable ways to do it. 

That’s why it is recommended to have a small calorie deficit and increase your physical activity.

HCG for weight loss might give you quick results, but it is not attainable. As soon as you resume eating more, you will be gaining your weight back fast by indulging in overeating. You will not only shock your body, but your mind as well because feelings of guilt, powerlessness, and failure will emerge. 

Talk to a doctor, or hire a personal trainer to give you a healthier diet and help you build life-lasting habits.

Avoid hCG for Weight Loss or any Drastic Diet!

HCG for weight loss stands on the assumption that it boosts your metabolism, and helps you lose fat without feeling hungry. Numerous studies have shown that hCG doesn’t have any effect on our body when it comes to weight loss, but it is the low-calorie intake that brings all the weight loss.

It might be appealing to lose a pound a day. You go to a beauty center with a nationally approved certification, have a few hCG shots, and keep eating 500 kcal for as many days as you can consciously count. But this diet requires a high level of effort and has reverse effects on your health.