PERRY BUCHANAN: The diet craze that won’t die away

Like Jason of the “Friday the 13th” horror movie series, some diet scams refuse to die.

Taking a hormone that is produced during pregnancy, with a promise of weight loss, is a dieting craze that just can’t be killed. The HCG diet claims that by taking injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), along with an extremely low-calorie diet, you can lose a pound a day and “reset your metabolism” without feeling hungry or weak.

Please excuse my cynicism, but while you’re injecting me with this pregnancy hormone, squirt some in my eye so I can’t see the obvious! Putting my cynical, sarcastic view aside, here’s what science says. Validated studies show that HCG has nothing to do with the weight loss. Any very calorie-restricted diet will result in weight loss.

HCG shots performed by a health care provider are approved to treat fertility issues and other medical conditions, but are not approved by the FDA for weight loss. The prescription drug label even states “no substantial evidence exists that weight loss is increased beyond that resulting from caloric restriction.” Over-the-counter homeopathic products such as drops, pellets, or sprays, are not approved for any use by the FDA, which has sent warnings to several companies that market these products.

The HCG diet was first promoted for weight loss in the 1950s. In the 1970s, negative studies and government action virtually eliminated the use of HCG for weight control.

Studies have been conducted by many credible medical journals disputing claims made by HCG diet marketers. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported, “There was no statistically significant difference between those receiving HCG vs. a placebo.”

A 1995 review of studies, published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, showed that HCG did not help people lose weight, and did not reduce feelings of hunger or promote feelings of well-being. The diet has become popular again, prompting the FDA and FTC to publicly warn consumers that they consider these homeopathic drugs to be a fraud. These government organizations are taking action against those companies that make fraudulent claims.

I find it absurd and mind-boggling that some med spa doctors promote HCG for weight loss, although most credible physicians do not. But why do people still fall for this diet, even after it has been discredited by reputable medical research? To tell someone just to reduce their calorie intake is not strong enough of a marketing message to have them reach for their wallet. The hormone becomes the “magic pill” to motivate. Just like many diet books, it also helps sales when the diet is promoted by a doctor. I’m sure the “Dr. Atkins Diet” sold a lot more copies than the “Mr. Atkins Diet” would have!

Also, by showing testimonial examples of those that have lost an extraordinary amount of weight, the diet’s merits are often not questioned and we buy in without due diligence.

Also not questioned is the fact that practically all who lose the weight will gain all of the weight back. Five hundred calories per day is not enough calories to support normal brain function. Your body will compensate by using stores of glycogen, some fat, and protein (muscle). Regardless what rogue diet marketers claim about “resetting your metabolism,” this will lower your resting metabolic rate, making it easier to gain excess fat weight. Even at a lighter weight you will have a higher body fat percentage.

The sensible ways to lose weight include setting realistic goals, following a balanced diet, and exercising. Why do we actually hate exercise so much and are so irrationally impatient that a sustainable 1-2 pounds of fat loss a week (50 to 100 pounds a year) that can be obtained through healthy lifestyle changes is too slow and unacceptable?. Fad programs, even if they deliver short term results, will not be sustainable, result in massive loss of lean weight (water, protein, and muscle glycogen stores) and are potentially dangerous to our health as well as our wallet.

We all wish there were an easy way, but there is no magic pill for losing weight. Eating a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and getting plenty of exercise is a scientifically proven formula for weight control.

Perry Buchanan, owner of PT Gym, is certified as an Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Email him at [email protected]. Follow @ptgym on Twitter.