There are a million and one diet fads out there, and chances are, if you have ever wanted to learn how to lose weight fast, you’ve probably tried a few or at least thought about it. One method that has come to light in the past years is the HCG diet.
Many people have tried this method but need to fully understand the HCG diet dangers that make this an unviable way to lose weight.
CardioMender, MD, Weight Loss Specialists are here to help you understand that weight loss is achievable without needing to go on a diet or make dramatic lifestyle adjustments.
What is the HCG Diet?
The HCG Diet is a restrictive calorie diet that combines the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) with a very low-calorie diet. Dr. Albert T.W. Simeons first formulated this diet in the 1950s, and it has been gaining popularity in recent years due to its purported ability to promote rapid weight loss. The HCG Diet requires individuals to limit their calorie intake to 500-800 calories per day while also taking HCG injections, drops, or pills.
What Are the Dangers of the HCG Diet?
The HCG diet is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been noted for its potential health risks. Some of the possible dangers that have been linked to the HCG Diet include:
- Cardiac arrhythmias: Dangerous cardiac arrhythmias have been associated with overly aggressive calorically restricted diets, such as the HCG Diet.
- Malnutrition: The HCG Diet is incredibly restrictive, which can lead to malnutrition. This can result in headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and other health problems.
- Low Blood Pressure: Dropping your calorie intake so low can cause your blood pressure to drop too. This can lead to lightheadedness and fainting.
- Unhealthy Weight Loss: Quick weight loss on the HCG Diet may not lead to healthy weight loss. This is because HCG itself does not actually burn fat; instead, the unhealthy caloric restriction encourages your body to release stored fat for energy.
Psychological effects and unsustainable results
Diets don’t work. This is why at CardioMender, MD, Weight Loss Specialists, we believe in educating anyone looking for sustainable weight loss on proper and evidenced-based nutrition and coming up with an effective individualized nutritional plan.
The HCG diet, despite its initial allure of fast weight loss results, has been associated with several adverse consequences that reaffirm why individuals should avoid this controversial diet.
Another significant concern associated with the HCG diet is its psychological effects. The offices of CardioMender have witnessed firsthand that severely restricting calorie intake can lead to mood swings, irritability, and feelings of deprivation.
This can have a negative impact on mental health and overall well-being.
An additional reason to avoid the HCG diet is its unsustainable nature. The extreme calorie restriction required by this diet is not only difficult to maintain, but it can also lead to a loss of muscle mass instead of fat.
Debunking the HCG Diet
Despite the fact that the HCG diet has become increasingly popular in recent years, there is no significant reproducible scientific evidence to support its claims. In addition to the dangers associated with it, there is also limited research demonstrating that the HCG Diet can actually help you lose weight. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a review of studies about HCG and concluded that there is a lack of evidence to support the use of HCG for weight loss.
A Word from CardioMender, MD
At CardioMender, MD Weight Loss Specialists, we offer a medically supervised program for healthy weight loss.
We provide individualized, medical weight loss solutions that focus on achieving a healthier lifestyle, including disease prevention and regression.
Our aim is to provide reliable information on weight loss through education on diet, nutrition, and achievable lifestyle changes.
We aim to offer medical weight loss support and inspiration in a caring, professional, ethical, and respectful manner.
Our approach focuses on understanding the root causes of overeating and providing sustainable solutions and support for lifelong results.
Contact us for more information on achieving healthy weight loss without needing to go on a diet today.
