Over-the-counter products containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may promise quick weight loss, but are ineffective for weight loss and illegal to sell.
The Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to avoid weight-loss products that contain hCG.
What is hCG?
hCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. hCG is approved for prescription use to treat female infertility and other medical conditions, but there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective tool for weight loss. In fact, the prescription drug label notes there “is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”The hCG Diet
The hCG Diet may include weight-loss products claiming to contain hCG. These are often marketed along with a severely restricted diet of as little as 500 calories per day. The weight loss that may occur in conjunction with hCG products results from caloric restriction, not from the supplement itself.Without medical supervision, following such a low-calorie diet like the hCG diet can be hazardous to your health, causing protein malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and increasing the risk for gallstone formation, imbalance of electrolytes, irregular heartbeat.
If your goal is to lose weight, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is the best approach. If you have followed diet and exercise plans without success, consider talking to your health care provider about weight-loss surgery.
Lose Weight at Penn Medicine
Learn about medical weight loss in Philadelphia, and the Penn Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at a free information session about weight-loss surgery in Philadelphia.There, you will hear about your weight-loss surgery options, and how Penn can help you lose weight and get healthy for good.
Register for a free information session today.
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