Diet Community

The Truth about hCG for Weight Loss" has yet to be determined.

As the webmd article cleary states at the very bottom in regard to Kathleen Zelman , "Her opinions and conclusions are her own." Thus, the verdict on the validity of hCG for weight loss has NOT reached a definitive conclusion.

Like Kathleen, I was skeptical of the hCG Diet iniitally. However, some of the data presented does make some sense.

With that in mind, let;s examine Kathleen's statements in the article.

1) "...you better be careful". hCG is a drug. As with ANY drug, you need to know what you doing and be careful with it.

2) "...involves injecting hCG"... Most physican's use sublingual hCG drops rather than injections. Kathleen need to complie all her facts before presenting them.

3) Weight loss is from the VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet), not the hCG.

A Very Low Calorie Diet plays a role in weight loss but it appears that hCG plays a role, as well.

4) "In theory, the hCG hormone is supposed to suppress hunger and trigger your body's use of fat for fuel."

Correct. The "theory" has some support for it. Which means there may or may not be some validity to it.

5) "You will lose weight on the hCG diets but the weight loss will be the result of the very low-calorie or starvation-like diet, not the hCG injections."

Weight loss is for the most part about math. Decrease you caloric intake, you lose weight. Increase you caloric intake, you gain weight.

However, there is some evidence that hCG promotes fat to be utilized for energy over lean muscle mass. That meaning that Nutrient Partitioning takes place...hCG directing your body to burn body fat and save muscle mass.

6) "...the scientific evidence for using hCG injections is lacking."

That same statement "the scientific evidence...is lacking" was used in regard to the use of the ketogenic diet for epilipsy decades ago. I doubt if anyone completely understands how it works, even today.

The point being is that along with the scientific data, you need to examine the empirical data (what happening in the real world).

Just because scientist can't figure it out doesn't mean it is invalid. In plain English, "Keep an open mind".

7) "When calories consumed are so low or close to starvation level, your body not only burns fat, but also muscle mass can be used for fuel."

The rest of the story is that in any weight loss diet, some muscle mass is usually lost. Resistance training is the most effective way of maintaining muscle mass while on a weight loss diet.

Also as I noted, one of the roles of hCG is that it directs the body to PRESERVE muscle mass and BURN body fat.

8) "...odds are the weight lost will return and when it does, it usually returns as all fat."

That statement is true of every diet. The primariy reason for individuals regaining weight are those individuals go back to their old eating habits.

However, rather than accept the blame for their demise, they blame the diet.

9) "...if losing weight were as simple as promised by the hCG diet, why would the obesity epidemic continue to exist in the U.S.?

First of all every diet, even the hCG Diet takes work. There is nothing easy about it. It doesn't just fall on you head.

Secondly, there are a plethora of reason why "the obesity epidemic continues to exist"...

One of the biggest problems individuals have is wanting a simple answer to a complex question. Everyone wants a one sentence answer.

Some individuals want an even shorter answer, Yes or No.

10) Kathleen peppered the article with "hCG needs to be injected".

hCG can be taken in sublingual drops.

So, Kathleen failed to do her home work.

Which brings up another intersting point. Kathleen has NO "hands on" practical, everyday exerience with hCG.

As the article states at the bottom, "Her opinions and conclusions are her own." Which means she may be right or she might not be right.

Thus, the bottom line is the verdict is still out on the hCG Diet.

Kenny Croxdale

As per Dr Oz, "5 million women suffer from a problem that prevents them from losing weight. No matter how much they diet or exercise."
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/hypothyroidism-why-youre-not-losing-weight

This an addemum to my previous hCG Diet response in regard to those with weight loss issues. It is an issue that I have pushed on the webmd message board.

My reference to weight loss issue meaning individuals who consume a proper diet and exercise program and yet cannot lose weight or even gain weight.

While the hCG Diet may address their weight loss issue to some extent, it does not address the real problem. That problem is their thyroid.

The irony is that the majority of medical doctors either don't know how to interpret an individuals blood chemistry panel or the ohysician does not take the time to compare an individuals previous reading to the present.

Physicians also fail to order additional.comprehensive thyroid test. The physician only looks at the Total Stimulating Hormone number. If it falls into the normal range, the physician declares you normal...end of story.

The problem is that is not the end of the story. The physician should compare you present reading to your previous reading to ascertain any changes.

Again, if an individual is truely following a proper diet and exericse program but either not losing weigh or even gaining weight, an additional thyroid test is needed.

The additional of an in depth thyroid test is necessary to evaluate T3 and T4 readings.

The predominate problem is that your T3 is NOT working like it should, so to speak.

The bottom line is that if your thyroid is NOT working like it should, NO diet or exericise program is going to work. END of story!

Kenny Croxdale