Everything You Need to Know About the hCG Diet

Here’s why the FDA removed hCG weight loss products from the market

The hCG diet combines a very low-calorie diet with the hormone hCG to achieve significant weight loss. Scientific studies have repeatedly found this diet ineffective and dangerous.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disapproves of hCG for weight loss and is actively working to have all hCG products labeled for weight loss removed from the market.

This article will cover what hCG is, how it's used for weight loss, and its associated risks.

What Is hCG?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced in the placenta of pregnant people. It is found in the urine of pregnant people. It has been FDA-approved for treating infertility in females and hormone treatment in males. FDA-approved hCG is only available as an injection and must be prescribed by a healthcare provider.

In the 1950s, a British physician named Albert T. W. Simeons claimed that hCG could make the body burn stored fat, especially around the stomach, hips, and thighs. He also claimed that those who used hCG would burn more fat than muscle and would not be as hungry.

Based on scientific evidence, a 2016 article in the Journal of Dietary Supplements claimed that the hCG diet was not an effective method of weight loss.

The Theory Behind hCG for Weight Loss

The hCG diet combines a very low-calorie diet with the hCG hormone supplement. The thought is that hCG will improve metabolism and help users burn more calories. The second claim behind the diet is that hCG reduces hunger and cravings, making it easier to stick with the diet.

The diet is divided into three phases, each with rules and restrictions on what can and cannot be eaten. The plan claims that people on the diet can lose one-half pound of fat per day and up to 3 pounds of weight per day in the first few days.

What You Can Eat on the hCG Diet

The hCG diet is broken up into three phases. Each phase has different recommended foods.

During the first phase, the user is to eat high-calorie, high-fat foods for two days. This would include foods like:

  • Burgers
  • Avocados
  • Nuts
  • Protein cooked with olive oil and butter
  • Chicken liver

The second phase lasts three to six weeks and requires users to eat only 500 calories daily and as little fat as possible. Food options include:

  • Egg whites
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Spinach
  • Apples
  • Kale

The third phase of the hCG diet allows users to increase the amount of food they eat but to avoid sugar and limit carbohydrates. This phase lasts for three weeks.

Science Does Not Support the hCG Diet Claims

The hCG diet leads users to believe that combining the hCG supplement and a low-calorie diet leads to high weight loss. However, no studies since the initial study in the 1950s have shown this to be an effective weight loss program.

The science does not support the hCG diet and has even found it dangerous.

Is the HCG Diet Effective?

The hCG diet is not an effective weight loss tool. It is a misguided diet that encourages people to consume a dangerously low amount of 500 calories daily for three to six weeks.

Scientific studies have found that the weight loss sustained during the diet is due to the low caloric intake and is not related to the hCG hormone supplement. The FDA has not approved hCG products for weight loss.

People looking for an effective diet plan should contact a registered dietitian or their healthcare provider for safe and sound medical advice.

Risks and Safety Concerns

There are serious risks and safety concerns when people eat an extremely low-calorie diet and take hCG. The FDA has reported incidences of:

Human chorionic gonadotropin products are frequently used off-label, meaning for something the FDA has not approved it for. Off-label use broadens the use of—and therefore increases the risk of—using a product with little to no information on its safety or efficacy.

hCG Products on the Market

The FDA is working hard to eliminate over-the-counter (OTC) hCG products labeled as "homeopathic for weight loss." The FDA does not approve these products and they have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness.

These companies and retailers are making false claims about their products and violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by selling these products.

FDA-approved hCG products are only available by injection and are never sold over the counter.

Summary

The hCG diet is a fad diet that involves serious calorie restriction and supplementing with the hCG hormone. It was introduced in the early 1900s and has since been debunked as an effective weight loss program by many researchers. It is a dangerous diet that does not allow users to gain adequate nutrition for up to nine weeks.

5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Questions and answers on hCG products for weight loss.

  2. Harvard Health. By the way, doctor: what do you know about the hCG diet?

  3. Butler SA, Cole LA. Evidence for, and associated risks with, the human chorionic gonadotropin supplemented dietJournal of Dietary Supplements. 2016;13(6):694-699. doi:10.3109/19390211.2016.1156208

  4. Optimal Health and Wellness. Should you consider the hCG weight loss?

  5. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Avoid dangerous hCG diet products.

Patty Weasler

By Patty Weasler, RN, BSN
Patty is a registered nurse with over a decade of experience in pediatric critical care. Her passion is writing health and wellness content that anyone can understand and use.