Human chorionic gonadotropin is the hormone produced by women when they are pregnant. In rare cases, the body also produces it when tumors are present. Home pregnancy tests detect this hormone to give a positive pregnancy result. There have been rumors surrounding this hormone since the 1950s and its effect on weight loss. There is no evidence that this hormone can produce weight loss results, but it can have a negative effect on your health.
The Theory
When the use of human chorionic gonadotropin was introduced as a weight-loss tool, it was accompanied by a 500-calorie diet. Dr. ATW Simeons, who introduced the concept, believed that the injection of this hormone made it possible for patients to live on a 500-calorie diet without hunger. Human chorionic gonadotropin converts fat in a woman to be used by the baby as calories during pregnancy. Dr. Simeons also believed that the same could be true of patients who were not pregnant.
The Studies
There have been 14 research trials on the use of human chorionic gonadotropin for weight loss. In the trials, 12 showed that there were no greater results from patients who received a placebo along with the 500-calorie diet. There were no greater number of patients who were able to stay on the diet because of receiving the hormone than there were patients who were able to stay on the diet with the placebo.
These results show that human chorionic gonadotropin is not an effective weight-loss tool and should not be used by patients who are seeking to lose weight.
Understanding the Side Effects
Not only is human chorionic gonadotropin not effective for weight loss, there are side effects that should be considered. The common side effects of the hormone when injected are fatigue, irritability, headache, pain, restlessness and nausea. More severe symptoms can occur less frequently when it is injected, including allergic reactions, bloating and swelling in the stomach area, chest pain, depression, irregular heartbeat, leg pain and weight gain.
Low-Calorie Diet
The 500-calorie diet that accompanies the use of human chorionic gonadotropin can also be excessively low and lack the basic nutrients that the body requires to function properly. There will be a weight loss on such a significantly low-calorie diet, but it is difficult to maintain and can slow down the metabolism in the process. Weight will be regained when the low-calorie diet is stopped and a normal eating pattern is resumed.
Weight loss should be restricted to a diet that allows for one to two pounds of weight loss per week. That results when calories are lowered to 500 per day less than the amount needed to maintain current body weight. Each pound of weight loss requires 3,500 fewer calories. A well-balanced diet that lowers calories and still contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins will result in a lasting weight loss that can be maintained for the rest of your life.
Tags: chorionic gonadotropin, weight loss, 500-calorie diet, human chorionic gonadotropin, this hormone, diet that
