What are HCG Diet Injections?

HCG diet injections consist of daily human chorionic gonadotropin shots as part of a diet plan introduced by British endocrinologist A.T. W. Simeons in 1954. The substance hCG is a hormone produced at increased levels in the embryo of pregnant women. Lesser levels of the hormone are also produced in men and women who are not pregnant. HCG diet injections are combined with a 500-calorie-a-day diet to produce weight loss.

Dieters on the plan give themselves hCG injections daily as part of a prescribed three week or six week program. The shots are usually administered just under the skin or in muscles in the thigh, buttocks, or the rear part of the upper arm. Syringes filled with the recommended dosage of the hormone can be purchased online and through some physicians.

Simeons developed the diet plan based on the premise that thin people can eat whatever they want without gaining weight. Obese individuals will stay heavy no matter how much food they consume because of the way their bodies store fat, the doctor declared. HCG diet injections might change a person’s metabolism to reroute stored fat into the bloodstream, where the body uses it as fuel, according to Simeons.

This hormone treats infertility by stimulating the ovaries and by producing progesterone levels high enough to sustain pregnancy. It also raises the sperm count in men hoping to become fathers. HCG injections are approved by regulatory agencies for these medical conditions, but not for weight loss.

Proponents of hCG diet injections for obesity believe the dieter does not lose lean muscle mass because stored fat is fueling the body and protecting muscle. Dieters do not feel hungry or crave certain foods, they say, as long as 100 grams of protein are eaten each day. The diet forbids sugar and allows one spoonful of milk per day, along with limited fruits and vegetables.

Side effects of hCG diet injections vary from person to person and include depression and mood swings. Blood clots might form and can be identified by feelings of dizziness, headaches, and confusion. The limbs might also become numb or appear red if blood clots are present. Some patients report tender breasts as a hormonal side effect while using hCG diet injections to lose weight.

Symptoms might also appear from restricting caloric intake. Nutritionists commonly recommend about 2,000 calories a day to maintain the proper mix of nutrients the human body needs to maintain health. Some people on the hCG diet find the body goes into starvation mode, causing the brain to function poorly. Signs of this condition include feeling tired but being unable to sleep, body aches, and fatigue.