Most of us know that HCG has been on the rise. It is a chemical that the body produces when a woman is pregnant. The companies that sell this compound have almost unrealistic claims for weight loss and so almost overnight, it caught on like wild fire.
I just got an email through NCSF (National Council of Strength and Fitness) and here is what it said:
HCG Products Are Illegal
The level of popularity of most
weight loss programs/products seems to be strongly correlated with the
advertised amount of pounds that people can lose, usually in the
shortest possible timeframe. The quicker the weight loss the more
popular the diet/program seems to be. Although the weight loss obtained
with the most popular diets/products can be simply explained with the
energy balance equation, companies tend to make the consumer believe
that there is a magic component in the product that is doing the work
for them. The Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) weight-loss products
are over the counter products identified as “homeopathic” and recommend
users to follow a severe restrictive diet. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has recently released their recommendation
regarding “homeopathic” HCG weight-loss products in their latest
Consumer Health Information issue, December 2011. The FDA recommends
consumers to stay away from these products due to the unsupported
claims. In addition, the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have
issued seven letters to companies warning about selling illegal
homeopathic HCG weight-loss drugs that have not been approved by the
FDA. This collaborative action between the FDA and FTC is the first step
in preventing these products from being marketed online and in retail
stores where they are commonly sold as oral drops, pellets and spray
forms.
The HCG claims
The products that claim to contain
HCG are typically attached to very low calorie diets; approximately 500
calories/day. Companies use statements like “reset you metabolism” and
“shave 20-30 pounds in 30 days”. Although the HCG story began in the
50s, no evidence currently exists that shows HCG promotes weight loss by
itself without creating a negative caloric balance. Elizabeth Miller,
acting director of FDA’s division of Non-Prescription Drugs and Health
Fraud said that “these products are marketed with incredible claims and
people think that if they are losing weight, HCG must be working. But
the data simply does not support this; any loss is from severe calorie
restriction. Not from HCG.”
The HCG Legality
The HCG is a hormone that is
produced in the human placenta during pregnancy but it is not approved
for weight loss or for over-the-counter sale for any purpose. Moreover, a
pharmacist at the FDA pointed that HCG is not listed in the Homeopathic
Pharmacopoeia of the United States, which lists the active ingredients
that may be legally included in homeopathic drug products. For this
reason, homeopathic HCG cannot legally be sold as a homeopathic
medication for any purpose. In addition, David Vladeck, director of the
FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection stated that “deceptive advertising
about weight loss products is one of the most prevalent types of fraud.
Any advertiser who makes health claims about a product is required by
federal law to back them up with competent and reliable scientific
evidence, so consumers have the accurate information they need to make
good decisions.”
HCG a Potentially Dangerous Diet
Living
on a very low calorie diet is considerably well documented to promote
side effects such as gallstone formation, potential electrolyte
imbalance, heartbeat irregularities, and various nutrient deficiencies
(vitamins, minerals and protein). The HCG diet plan suggests individuals
consume 500 calories/day, which is significantly less than the average
2,000 calorie recommended diet. The safe, general recommendation for
healthy weight loss is a reduction of approximately 500 calories/day,
only a third of the 1,500 calories/day recommended when following the
diet plan. “These HCG products marketed over-the-counter are unproven to
help with weight loss and are potentially dangerous even if taken as
directed,” said Ilisa Bernstein, acting director of the Office of
Compliance in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “And a very
low calorie diet should only be used under proper medical supervision.”
This very low calorie diet should only be prescribed under medical
supervision for specific conditions such as extremely obese patients
with health conditions. Health care professionals should provide
credible information to their clients/patients so that they may be able
to make appropriate decisions and avoid unrealistic weight loss
expectations. (FDA Consumers Health information, December 2011)
