Shortly
after graduating college I applied for a job at a metabolic weight loss
center. When I pulled up to the building I noticed a sign that said
something along the lines of "Lose 10 lbs in one week!" That was the
first red flag. During my interview the owner of the clinic told me
about their method of weight loss: injections of human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG) and 500 calorie diets. That was the 2nd and final red
flag. He told me they had a medical doctor on staff and that the diet
was a safe and "natural" way to lose weight. After researching HCG when I
got home that day, I called the owner and declined the job.
HCG is a hormone
that is produced in the urine during pregnancy. It's claimed to
suppress appetite and trigger the body to use fat as fuel. Along with
HCG injections or oral drops, participants are placed on a 500-800
calorie diet.
HCG has never been proven to aid in weight loss. The FDA has not approved HCG and has advised consumers not to buy this over-the-counter drug. The FDA has even warned companies selling HCG that they are breaking the federal law since HCG is not approved and the labels make unsupported claims.
So why are so
many people on the HCG bandwagon? Because anyone on a 500-800 calorie
diet will lose weight - initially. This is NOT a sustainable diet. It is
impossible to provide your body with the carbohydrates, fats, protein,
fiber, and vitamin and minerals that you need every day in this minute
amount of calories. When calories are severely restricted, the body
first uses fat, then muscle. Muscle is what keeps your metabolism revved
up and is the last thing you want to lose when trying to lose and keep
weight off. Usually, when people drop weight rapidly by starving
themselves, they end up gaining it all back as fat. When the body is in long-term
starvation mode, there can be more adverse effects such as gallstone
formation, improper muscle and nerve function, irregular heartbeat, and
many other effects.
If starvation
and pregnant ladies urine doesn't sound appealing to you, lose weight
the old-fashioned, healthy way! There is no quick-fix to losing weight
and keeping it off permanently. Eat all food groups based on the dietary guidelines
and exercise. The dietary guidelines are based on scientific evidence
from thousands of studies. Following the guidelines can lead to weight
loss and will provide all the nutritional components your body needs.
Click here
to use the myplate.gov food tracker to discover how many calories and
servings of each food group you need to lose or maintain weight the
healthy way.
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hcg-diet/an02091
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss?page=2
