Does The hCG Diet Work?

The controversial new diet using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in combination with a highly caloric restrictive diet may help patients lose a large amount of weight in a short period of time.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 33.8% of Americans are obese. In the past 2 decades, the dramatic increase in obesity has led to not one state in America having less than a 20% prevalence for obesity in 2010. Along with skyrocketing rates of obesity are the increase of weight-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes. In fact, according to WebMD.com, obese individuals are 40% more likely to succumb to premature death than a person of normal weight. With such startling numbers, it’s no surprise that many people are searching for diets that are quick and effective – one of which is the new controversial hCG Diet.

Recently discussed on The Dr. Oz Show, the hCG Diet has been termed the Weight Loss Miracle by many, with promises of weight loss of 40 pounds in 40 days. FDA approved for fertility, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone naturally secreted in pregnant women. While not approved for weight loss, many physicians across the nation have prescribed the hCG diet for patients seeking to lose a large amount of weight. Physicians and patients alike are divided on the efficacy and safety of the diet, thus causing the controversy surrounding the hCG Diet.

The concept of using hCG as an appetite suppressant is not new: it was first studied by Dr. ATW Simeons in the 1950s, who found that small amounts of the natural hormone hCG injected in either male and female patients would suppress their appetites to encourage weight loss in his overweight patients. Today, this medical weight loss system not only includes hCG that a physician must prescribe, it is also paired with a 500-calorie per day restrictive diet. The hCG diet is under heavy scrutiny, questions of whether or not hCG truly suppresses appetite or is it the fact that patients are consuming less than 1/4th of recommended daily caloric intake that causes the tremendous weight loss.

Read the full article at http://www.americanhealthandbeauty.com/articles/?article=4545

Source:  American Health and Beauty for Tuesday August 23, 2011 at http://www.americanhealthandbeauty.com/articles/?article=4545