Does HCG cause weight loss?

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Wednesday, July 28, 2004 4:48 am Email this article
No, according to an interview I did with George Bray, M.D. several years ago.

Here is Dr. Bray’s answer.

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Four double-blind studies found HCG does not work

Hobbs:  Some weight loss clinics still give shots of HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, for weight loss. Is HCG helpful for weight loss?

Bray:  No. Four double-blind studies have shown that HCG has no significant effect on weight.

?? Greenway FL, Bray GA. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity: a critical assessment of the Simeons method. Western Journal of Medicine, 1977 Dec, 127(6):461-3.

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Recent review also concluded HCG does not work

A more recent analysis of previous studies reached the same conclusion (Lijesen et al, 1995).

“Of the 12 studies [that were performed well], one reported that HCG was a useful adjunct… We conclude that there is no scientific evidence that HCG is effective in the treatment of obesity; it does not bring about weight-loss of fat-redistribution, nor does it reduce hunger or induce a feeling of well-being,” Lijesen et al wrote (1995).

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A conference is being held on HCG and obesity

Thank you to Dr. Robert Skversky who sent me a link to an upcoming conference called “International Workshop on hCG and Obesity” that is being held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sept 24-26, 2004.

This is interesting considering its apparent lack of efficacy.

What is HCG?

HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It is a hormone produced in pregnancy, that is made by the embryo soon after conception.

It is the hormone that is measured in home pregnancy tests. It acts to maintain levels of progesterone in the mother in order to maintain the uterine lining so that it can continue to sustain the growing fetus.

REFERENCE

Lijesen G, Theeuwen I, Assendelft W, Van Der Wal G. The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) in the treatment of obesity by means of the simeons therapy: a criteria-based meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1995 Sep, 40(3):237-43.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

G. Lijesen
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)