hCG diet spreads

Students at Weber State University are using or talking about the revolutionary hCG diet that promises the average hCG-dieter rapid weight loss averaging 1 to 3 pounds per day. The buzz is about the controversial use of the human hormone chorionic gonadotropin, hCG, which is produced in pregnancy and used in a new weight-loss regime.
British endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons discovered while studying pregnant women in India on a calorie-deficient diet, and “fat boys” with pituitary problems treated with low-dose hCG, that both lost fat rather than lean muscle tissue.
The hCG diet includes recommended intake of the low-dose daily hCG treatments, either injected or taken orally, in combination with a customized ultra-low-calorie (about 500 calories), high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet which is believed to lead to a loss of fat tissue without loss of lean tissue. After Simeons’ death, the diet started to spread.
The diet spread to WSU students like Justin Head, who has lost 25 pounds already.
“HCG is a wonderful diet,” Head said. “It’s important you know all the rules when starting hCG. There are lots of rules and to follow them to the letter you will see great results. Honestly, hCG diet gave me a jump start on becoming healthy and fit and realized that fast food and cheap dollar menu food is only going to my butt. I have realized how to eat and what is healthy.”
Each round of treatment lasts a minimum of 26 days, and 23 of those days require a daily injection of hCG. Little or no exercise is recommended on the diet. The 500-calorie-a-day diet is part of the controversy.
“At first the thought of living on 500 calories a day was a bit overwhelming,” Head said. “I didn’t think it was possible, but after speaking with people that tried it, they were amazed at how the body wasn’t hungry, how quick you lose weight.”
There have been no proven negative effects for the diet so far, but it is not FDA-approved for the use of weight loss. Doctors can write prescriptions for the hCG hormone for the use of a fertility drug, but are not supposed to write the prescription with the intent of using it as a weight-loss medication. Nutritionist Penny Poulson has looked into the research of the hCG diet.
“Besides the fact that there is a huge black-market for hCG, and there’s a very large risk of getting an impure product from an unknown source or manufacturer,” Poulson said. “Some people have been lucky with hCG, but some haven’t — and long-term studies have proven very disappointing for those hoping for a permanent cure.”
Some have never heard of this diet and are  cautious about using it.
“I think it is just weird,” said Melanie Tapia, a senior at WSU. “When I was pregnant, thinking that a hormone I was producing was being injected into people to lose weight would have just creeped me out.”
The diet has shown results in men and women alike, but isdiscouraged for those who the age of 18.
“I think this diet is for everyone,” Head said. “I believe the way the diet resets your system and how it teaches a person self-control would be good for anyone that eats unhealthy and without self- control.”