Fad ‘HCG diet’ can cause 'major health problems', warn health experts

Would you inject pregnancy hormones to lose weight?

There are reports of women having strokes and other major health problems (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Despite unwavering advice from experts that the key to weight loss is healthy eating and exercise, a huge number of women insist on quick-fix, crash or fad diets.

The latest of which is the ‘HCG diet’ (human chorionic gonadotropin) – a dangerous trend that sees people injecting themselves twice a day with a hormone derived from the uterus of pregnant women.

Now, a series of health experts are warning against the increasingly popular fad, saying that it can cause health complications and that there’s no scientific evidence to support it.

“HCG doesn't have any approval for weight loss and we strongly recommend against it,” Professor Bu Beng Yeap from the Endocrine Society of Australia told news.com.au.

“If you're giving women HCG, one of the risks is ovarian hyperstimulation.

“In women who are using it to achieve weight loss, there are reports of women having strokes and other major health problems,” he explained.

Nevertheless a growing number of women are turning to the HCG diet in a bid to lose weight.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar Australia, Rachel – not her real name - who uses the controversial method spoke out to defend it.

“I see it more as a bypass. But we're living in this “no pain, no gain” culture. People snigger about lap band surgery, and this is tarred with the same brush,' the size zero woman said.

“If I said I got this body by surviving on kale, running marathons on a treadmill and drinking charcoal water, everyone would be applauding me saying: “You go, girl!”

Despite facing criticism from some of the world’s leading health experts the treatment continues to be offered in several cosmetic and weight loss clinics but it seems doctors are becoming more strict with who they offer it to.

“People are asking for it, but I'd only prescribe it to 20 per cent of patients at most,” Dr Jeremy Cumpston from Sydney’s Ageless Clinics told Harper’s.

“I have to be very familiar with a patient's history before I'd even consider it. And I only ever allow it to be used over a 12-week period.”

He also added that he will only offer HCG to people who need to lose more than ten kilograms and said that anyone who wants to use it to drop five is just “being vain.”