Human Hormone Used To Lose Weight

Users call it a miracle; doctors say it is just a placebo. Either way, the hormone HCG is getting a lot of attention lately. HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a naturally occurring hormone women produce while pregnant. It can be found in their urine.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the use of HCG in large doses as a fertility treatment, but more and more physicians and medical clinics across the United States are writing prescriptions for HCG off-label to use as a weight loss treatment.

The idea of using this human hormone as a means to lose weight first came to pass in the 1950s by a British researcher studying pregnant women in third-world countries. Despite their emaciated state, he noticed their ability to give birth to healthy babies. He theorized a hormone produced during pregnancy was providing nourishment stored in the mothers’ body to the baby.

The theory behind the HCG injection is that it releases naturally stored fat into your body, fat that your body will gradually burn off throughout the day. While a relatively new concept in the United States, HCG is very commonly used around the world in parts of Europe and South America.

Here in the Borderland the dominant HCG center is called Slim Xpress, a Seattle-based company that operates a small satellite center in West El Paso. Julie Wright is a former client of Slim Xpress who lost 20 pounds using what is described as the HCG protocol. She now works for Slim Xpress.

“I know it works; I know firsthand,” said Wright. When describing the potential for success on the program, Wright said, “If they are going to invest the time and energy into it, then they could lose a half a pound to a pound a day.”

That is a lofty claim that Debi Hicks, a registered dietitian with Providence Hospital in West El Paso, thinks may be too good to be true. “Most people know what they're supposed to do. They’re just looking for a quick fix...a magic pill they can take and drop 20 pounds and they'll be thin. But if we had something that actually worked and was safe we wouldn't have fat people walking around,” said Hicks.

She said the best way to lose weight is through the tried and true method of healthy eating and exercising on a daily basis. She references a list of questions that anyone needs to stop and ask themselves before trying any kind of new weight loss plan.

1. Are the foods in your weight loss plan foods that you will be able to eat for the rest of your life? 2. Can you buy these foods at your local supermarket? 3. Does the weight loss plan include some of your favorite foods? 4. Do these foods fit your diet and lifestyle? 5. Does the plan include regular physical activity and exercise? 6. Are foods included from all five food groups? 7. Is the right number of servings from each food group?

The HCG protocol from Slim Xpress last for approximately 40 days, but can be continued beyond that point based upon a client’s individual success. In addition to taking a micro dose of HCG via a small needle, clients will be placed on a diet that is carb-free, sugar-free, oil-free, and dairy-free. Again, a component that doesn’t sit well with Hicks.

“It's the same thing that we hear all the time...it's just a healthy eating plan where you're eating three meals a day...breakfast lunch and dinner,” said Hicks.

Wright said many clients question what happens once the program has come to an end. “Once the weight is lost they go into what we call a maintenance phase. We gradually taper them off of the HCG, and introduce other foods. See how they tolerate...see if they keep the weight off. Then they're good to go. It is a lifestyle change.”

It is very similar to a plan that 27-year-old Abbie Sykora said changed her life. Obese at a young age and facing the on start of diabetes, Sykora began the program early in 2009. Within a matter of three months she had lost 93 pounds. She said it changed her life. “I felt great throughout the program. I wasn't hungry. I slept better than I had in years. I detoxed my body and felt better than I had in years.”

Now wearing a size she previously only dreamed of, Sykora runs her own HCG wellness center in Waco, Texas, called AVA Self Management. She said business is booming and more and more clients are looking for a way to lose weight.

Dr. Beth McQuinn, a physician working with Slim Xpress, said there are certain conditions that will prevent their company from working with a client.

1 – If the person has Type 1 Diabetes. 2 – If the person has kidney disease. 3 – If the person is pregnant, breast feeding, or trying to get pregnant. 4 – If the person is actively being treated for cancer. 5 – If the person recently has undergone surgery or is planning to undergo surgery.

In some cases the HCG has been known to increase fertility, but those are often few and far between according to Dr. McQuinn. Men can use HCG as a means for weight loss with no odd body changes or harmful side effects. There are also no known negative interactions with prescription medications.

Cost is something that can vary based upon the individual and length of treatment, according to Wright. While not providing an exact cost, the plan offered through Sykora’s Waco center runs in the neighborhood of $1,000 for 40 days worth of medical treatment.

There are plans available for order on the Internet, but both Wright and Sykora caution against ordering medication from unknown sources. They recommend ordering them through an established company that does have some medical supervision.

They also encourage conducting a background search on the company and its owners to make sure there is no pending litigation against the company.

At the end of the day, Debi Hicks would rather see people approach weight loss with a realistic and healthy approach. She said a pound a day is just too much weight to lose, and a more natural solution will see people losing in the neighborhood of one or two pounds per week.