The HCG Diet Protocol is the new kid on the fad diet block. The diet promises rapid weight loss, with reports of more than 50 pounds lost in just over a month, with minimal effort. Those types of claims get my attention.
What is the HCG Diet?
The HCG diet requires that the dieter take supplements of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which are available in a number of forms from any number of companies. This hormone is present in both men and women, but spikes in women during pregnancy. Supporters of the diet claim that HCG helps in weight loss by redistributing fat away from the "trouble spots" like the stomach and butt. They also claim that HCG causes the body to burn fat as it's primary fuel.
But the diet requires much more than just taking hormone drops. The HCG Protocol calls for an extremely restrictive diet plan. For the first two days of taking the hormone, you are required to load up on high fat foods. On the third day, the diet calls for a sudden drop to no more than 500 calories per day. The only foods allowed during this phase are fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats. After about a month, the diet tells you to stop taking the hormone but maintain the 500 calorie diet for three days. You then enter the maintenance phase which allows you to bring caloric intake up to 1500 per day.
Side Effects, Concerns and General Skepticism
First, let's talk about the HCG hormone. There is no scientific evidence to prove that this hormone plays any role in weight loss. The most commonly cited study to suggest this action of the hormone was published in 1973 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study, however, involved a small sample group of only 40 women. The study used the same 500 calorie diet as promoted by the HCG diet plan which had apparently already been in use for a few years. However, several studies in the years following found that HCG had no significant effects and no recent evidence exists to support these claims.
But, people are losing weight on this plan. Which is exactly what you would expect to happen when you eat less than half of the calories the average person needs to support healthy biological functions. This type of starvation diet will lead to nutritional deficits and you will have to take a number of supplements to just maintain the bare minimum intake of vitamins and minerals. According to the Mayo Clinic, rapid weight loss may cause gall stones. HCG also has some interesting side effects which include fatigue, irritability, headaches and male breast enlargement.
Due to the highly restrictive, and somewhat dangerous nature of this program, it is not designed to be followed for long periods of time which means that any weight lost is very likely to return. Even the maintenance protocol endorsed by some HCG websites in severe. One website recommends that when you gain more than 3 pounds over your goal weight, you should take a "Steak Day." This involves eating nothing for breakfast and lunch but having a large steak and apple for dinner.
The main problem with this diet, and most other crash diets, is that it does not encourage any real lifestyle change and does not make an room for exercise. In fact, it's not even recommended that you exercise when following such a restrictive diet because your body will not have the fuel to perform the activity or recover properly.
The HCG diet will, doubtlessly, help you to shed the pounds at incredible rates. But, this is accomplished by essentially starving yourself which is not typically a recommended method of weight loss.
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