HCG Diet

Dr. Oz recently featured the HCG diet on his show.  Apparently this show featured guests who testified to the diet's effectiveness.   I haven't been able to watch the episodes myself, so I won't comment on the show.  But I can give you some quick information about HCG. 

Human chorionic gonadotrophin "treatment" has been around for over 50 years.  A physician named Dr. Albert T. Simeons claimed injecting this hormone could enable dieters to comply with a 500 calorie a day diet.  The hormone, by the way, is found in the urine of pregnant women.

What does the research say?  Here's a good summary:

Numerous clinical trials have shown HCG to be ineffectual in producing weight loss. HCG injections can induce a slight increase in muscle mass in androgen-deficient males. The diet used in the Simeons method provides a lower protein intake than is advisable in view of current knowledge and practice. There are few medical literature reports favorable to the Simeons method; the overwhelming majority of medical reports are critical of it. Physicians employing either the HCG or the diet recommended by Simeons may expose themselves to criticism from other physicians, from insurers, or from government bodies.

Quoted from:
American College of Bariatric Physicians: Position statement: Use of HCG in the treatment of obesity.

Needless to say, I'd stay away from this "diet plan."  The calories are way to low, the weekly injections are expensive, and the research just doesn't support it.

Invest in a decent diet and exercise program like Mike Geary's Truth About Abs if you are really interested in losing body fat.

You can read my review of his program here: Truth About Abs Review