1. The hCG Diet A Trend in Dietetic Practice
Kristine Sullivan and Hannah Lapkin

2. The hCG Diet for Weight Loss
hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or Human Choriogonadotropin
Hormone produced during pregnancy to manage metabolic processes
Diet consists of
Daily hCG injections (approximately IUs)
Very low calorie diet (approximately 500 calories/day)
High protein, low carbohydrate, and low fat (of 500 calories)
Rapid weight loss (1-3 lbs./day)
Many diet protocols
Original created by Dr. Simeons in 1954
Published a manuscript called “Pounds and Inches” for his protocol
VLCD without headaches, irritation, or weakness- making weight loss easier to manage
Recent diet protocol by Kevin Trudeau (2007)
“The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About”
Oral hCG developed by Dr. Belluscio
Ex. Releana

3. hCG Protocol Prescription from doctor required
Although easy to find online for purchase
Vials filled with prescribed amount of hCG and can be administered without direct supervision of doctor
hCG injections taken daily for up to 43 days or maximum of 34 lbs weight loss at a time
6 week break
Prevent body fat from building up hCG tolerance
Women cannot take hCG injections during menstruation
Must continue 500-kcal diet throughout menstruation though

4. Health Claims Weight loss for the treatment of obesity
Reducing all-cause mortality
Reducing prevalence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, gallbladder disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, asthma, gout, and much more!
“hCG targets abnormal fat storage areas such as abdomen, thighs, hips, and buttocks, whereas traditional calorie restrictive diets take fat from essential structural fat areas such as joints, foot pads, and around internal organs”
Excess stored fat provides 80% of calorie needs
Resets hypothalamus gland
Responsible for excessive abnormal fat accumulation
Regulation and control of metabolism and weight

5. Products and Cost
Prescribed by physician (although many other options for purchasing online)
hCG marketed under brand names Chorex, Novarel, Pregnyl, and Profasi
Not covered by insurance
Initial consultation= $150 and $10/injection
Approximately $590 (not included any follow-up visits)
Many websites available online offering hCG injections from $200- $370

6. Literature Review

7. hCG in the Treatment of Obesity
20 patients in each group
Randomly assigned to hCG injection group and placebo injection group
Both groups on 500-kcal diet
Injections given 6 days/week for 6 weeks
Weights taken weekly
Body composition measured at baseline and 6 weeks
To assess possibility of localized fat reduction
Hunger evaluated on 1-9 scale
Baseline and 6 weeks
Anxiety, hostility, and depression also evaluated
No significant difference between the two groups
All groups lost significant weight due to 500-kcal diet
Greenway, F. & Bray, G. (1977). Human chorionic gonadotropic (hCG) in the treatment of obesity. The Western Journal of Medicine. 127;

8. Ineffectiveness of hCG in weight reduction
51 women between ages 18-60
32 day prospective, randomized, double-blinded study
Had to be lbs. over ideal body weight for height
All patients given same diet and weighed daily
8-10 glasses water were advised
500-kcal diet
Clinical visit every morning Monday-Saturday
25 in hCG arm and 21 in saline placebo arm
28 injections over 32 days
No statistically significant difference between two diet arms in weight loss and hunger ratings
Stein, M., Julis, R., Peck, C., Hinshaw, W., Sawicki, J., & Deller, J. (1976). Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: A double-blind study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 29;

9. hCG in Weight Control: Double-Blind Study
202 participants in double-blind random crossover study
Studied effectiveness of hCG vs placebo in weight reduction program
Measurements of weight, skin-fold thickness, dropout rates, and reasons for dropping out
No statistically significant difference between hCG and placebo groups at ANY PHASE of the study (p>.1)
Young, R., Fuchs, R. & Woltjien, M. (1976). Chorionic gonadotropin in weight control: A double-blind cross study. JAMA. 236(22):

10. hCG Treatment of Obesity
6 hospitalized, obese women placed on 500-kcal diet and given 125 IU intramuscular injection for 30 days
5 hospitalized, obese women placed on 500-kcal diet received injections of dilutent only for 30 days
No significant difference in weight loss or any other weight-related measure between the two groups
No changes in variety of plasma and urine substrates, electrolytes, and hormones.
Indicate that hCG has no effects on the chemical or hormonal parameters measured
Shetty, K., & Kalkoff, R. (1977). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment of obesity. Archives of Internal Medicine. 137(2):

11. hCG and Weight Loss: Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
40 obese women placed on a 500-kcal diet
20 in each arm
Received daily intramuscular injections of saline OR hCG injections
6 days/week for 6 weeks
Psychological profile, hunger level, body circumferences, fasting blood sample, and food records obtained
Baseline and 6 weeks
No statistically significant difference found in respect to any variables recorded
Bosch, B., Venter, I., Stewart, R., & Bertram, S. (1990). Human chorionic gonadotropin and weight loss: A double blind, placebo-controlled trial. South African Medical Journal, 77(4):

12. Summary
No scientific evidence that hCG causes weight loss, redistributes fat, reduces hunger
Conflicts with consumer information
FDA has warned against the use of hCG injections for treatment of obesity
Has called hCG supplements for weight loss “illegal and fraudulent”
Since hCG is FDA-approved for treating infertility, physicians can legally use this “approved” medication in any way that they wish
Calorie intake too low to provide adequate nutrition
Few reports of adverse side effects: blood clots, headaches, restlessness, depression, hair loss, constipation, gall stones, and dizziness
May also cause Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): ovaries become very swollen- fluid leaks into belly and chest area
Can be life-threatening

13. References
(n.d.) Fat No More- hCG Diet Made Easier. Retrieved from
(2012). The hCG diet: Health benefits, implications, and FDA attack. Retrieved from
(n.d). How much do hCG diet injections cost? Retrieved from
Discovery Communications. (2012). How much does the hCG diet cost? Retrieved from fitness/diets/hcg-diet-cost.htm
Robb-Nicholson, C. (2010). What do you know about the hCG diet? Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Retrieved from
Cohen, P. (2011). The hCG diet: Fact vs fiction. Retrieved from
Greenway, F. & Bray, G. (1977). Human chorionic gonadotropic (hCG) in the treatment of obesity. The Western Journal of Medicine. 127;
Stein, M., Julis, R., Peck, C., Hinshaw, W., Sawicki, J., & Deller, J. (1976). Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: A double-blind study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 29;
Young, R., Fuchs, R. & Woltjien, M. (1976). Chorionic gonadotropin in weight control: A double-blind cross study. JAMA. 236(22):
Shetty, K., & Kalkoff, R. (1977). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment of obesity. Archives of Internal Medicine. 137(2):
Bosch, B., Venter, I., Stewart, R., & Bertram, S. (1990). Human chorionic gonadotropin and weight loss: A double blind, placebo-controlled trial. South African Medical Journal, 77(4):