Patients, doctors, and other health care professionals often come to me to ask about the HCG diet.   The bottom line is that the HCG diet is dangerous – you can read more on my thoughts about the dangers of HCG here, and more on the dangers of the accompanying very low calorie diet here.

What I wanted to share with you today is an alert page that the FDA has set up to inform about the dangers of the HCG diet.  As clearly stated, there

“is no substantial evidence that [HCG] increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”


Further, 


“HCG is not on the [Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia] list and cannot be sold as a homeopathic medication for any purpose”


And, 

“FDA advises consumers who have purchased homeopathic HCG for weight loss to stop using it, throw it out, and stop following the dieting instructions. Harmful effects should be reported online to FDA’s MedWatch program or by phone at 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088) and to the consumer’s health care professional.”
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