David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
HCG Diet lacks hard evidence that it works
Dr. Marla Shapiro, CTV
April 12, 2011
Well, in life as in medicine: if it sounds to good to be true, it likely is too good to be true. With the epidemic of obesity and overweight, we still are looking for an easy way out with a quick fix as our expectation, if not a demand. That kind of demand fuels all kinds of claims not supported by scientific rigor.
From television programs to Internet claims and clinics popping up, injectable hCG is touted as the answer to weight loss. The claims -- that when you inject it, you can eat a 500-calorie diet and feel full and rapidly lose fat without losing muscle -- are at the very least tantalizing.
Experience has taught us that evidence-based medicine is critical to endorse the science behind the claims. While the endorsements may populate the Internet or magazines or even popular television shows, we lack the evidence on effectiveness, side effects and safety.
HCG is licensed for use in infertility treatments. Proponents of hCG for weight loss state that the dose used in comparison to fertility are significantly lower and therefore we need not worry about side effects. But is that really true?
The hormone carries risks of blood clots, depression, headaches and breast tenderness or enlargement. Dr. Pieter Cohen, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, points out in an interview with The New York Times that aside from the issue of side effects, the use of hCG as a diet tool was ?manipulating people to give them the sense that they?re receiving something that?s powerful and potent and effective, and in fact they?re receiving something that?s nothing better than a placebo.?
HCG is derived from the urine of pregnant women. It has to be administered by injections and the endorsement by a handful of physicians in writing the off-label use of this prescription somehow implies there are no concerns.
To date, there are no large randomized clinical trials that show benefits of hCG injections or that taking hCG drops by mouth that would actually promote weight loss. There are more than 10 studies to show that hCG injections have no benefit whatsoever.
Despite any claims, there is no data to suggest it can promote fat loss or break down fat cells.
Is this all placebo? Certainly, 500 calories will promote weight loss, but that kind of calorie restriction will work short term all on its own. Once the restriction is stopped, weight gain is a concern as there has been no real change in lifestyle or education about healthy eating which is critical to long term success.
Proponents of the safety of hCG state that they are using a small dose and would argue there are very few harmful effects.
The bottom line is without solid evidence, these remain nothing more than claims. There are indeed potential risks and harm to individuals who are taking these injections.
The reality is that there are no quick fixes. As a country we need a strategy to encourage exercise, healthy eating and portion control. As I suggested: if it sounds to good to be true, it likely is
]WATCH: Segment on Canada AM: hCG diet claims
Dr. Marla Shapiro, CTV
April 12, 2011
Well, in life as in medicine: if it sounds to good to be true, it likely is too good to be true. With the epidemic of obesity and overweight, we still are looking for an easy way out with a quick fix as our expectation, if not a demand. That kind of demand fuels all kinds of claims not supported by scientific rigor.
From television programs to Internet claims and clinics popping up, injectable hCG is touted as the answer to weight loss. The claims -- that when you inject it, you can eat a 500-calorie diet and feel full and rapidly lose fat without losing muscle -- are at the very least tantalizing.
Experience has taught us that evidence-based medicine is critical to endorse the science behind the claims. While the endorsements may populate the Internet or magazines or even popular television shows, we lack the evidence on effectiveness, side effects and safety.
HCG is licensed for use in infertility treatments. Proponents of hCG for weight loss state that the dose used in comparison to fertility are significantly lower and therefore we need not worry about side effects. But is that really true?
The hormone carries risks of blood clots, depression, headaches and breast tenderness or enlargement. Dr. Pieter Cohen, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, points out in an interview with The New York Times that aside from the issue of side effects, the use of hCG as a diet tool was ?manipulating people to give them the sense that they?re receiving something that?s powerful and potent and effective, and in fact they?re receiving something that?s nothing better than a placebo.?
HCG is derived from the urine of pregnant women. It has to be administered by injections and the endorsement by a handful of physicians in writing the off-label use of this prescription somehow implies there are no concerns.
To date, there are no large randomized clinical trials that show benefits of hCG injections or that taking hCG drops by mouth that would actually promote weight loss. There are more than 10 studies to show that hCG injections have no benefit whatsoever.
Despite any claims, there is no data to suggest it can promote fat loss or break down fat cells.
Is this all placebo? Certainly, 500 calories will promote weight loss, but that kind of calorie restriction will work short term all on its own. Once the restriction is stopped, weight gain is a concern as there has been no real change in lifestyle or education about healthy eating which is critical to long term success.
Proponents of the safety of hCG state that they are using a small dose and would argue there are very few harmful effects.
The bottom line is without solid evidence, these remain nothing more than claims. There are indeed potential risks and harm to individuals who are taking these injections.
The reality is that there are no quick fixes. As a country we need a strategy to encourage exercise, healthy eating and portion control. As I suggested: if it sounds to good to be true, it likely is
]WATCH: Segment on Canada AM: hCG diet claims
