I have reviewed many studies on the HCG Diet and as a Exercise Physiologist I don’t understand why people continued listening to horrible advice and easy quick fixes to their weight loss. The HCG Diet is horrible and doesn’t work to do to the human body and whomever is recommending this to people need to stop. People on this diet and who want fast fat loss or weight loss. WAKE UP!! Nothing works unless you eat right and you exercise, there are no shortcuts, just like having a successful business, a great marriage, or anything in life it takes work and moving in the right direction and there are never any easy way quick rich scams that work or quick fat loss plans that work. Stop fooling yourself, of course anything works temporally and people can lose a great deal a weight on any caloric restriction diet, but it’s not good long term. Please read this study and if you want I have many more I can send you and show you, why this isn’t good for you. Go Get Help from an Professional Fitness Trainer, or someone that can really help you get fit and stay fit, healthy, and active forever. Stop trying to find the easy way out and stop buying these diet and fitness scams.
Refer to: Greenway FL, Bray GA: Human chorionic gonadotropin
(HCG) in the treatment of obesity-A critical
assessment of the Simeons method. West J Med 127:
461-463, Dec 1977
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
( HCG ) inthe Treatmentof Obesity
A CriticalAssessmentof theSimeonsMethod
FRANK L. GREENWAY, MD, and GEORGE A. BRAY, MD, Torrance,California
Injections of human chorionic gonadotropin ( HCG ) have been claimed to aid
inweight reduction by reducing hunger, and affecting mood as well as aiding
inlocalized (spot) reduction. We have tested these claimsin adouble-blind
randomized trial usinginjectionsof HCG or placebo. Weight loss was identical
between thetwogroups, and there was no evidence for differential effects on
hunger, mood or localized body measurements.Placeboinjections,therefore,
appear to be as effective as HCG in the treatment of obesity.
THETREATMENT OFOBESITYwith diet and injections
of human chorionicgonadotropin(HCG)
wassuggested bySimeons in 19541 but its effectiveness
has never beenclearly established.2-5In
spiteof the tenuous scientific basis for treating
obesityin thisfashion,the method hasflourished
in commercialweight clinics throughoutthe
United States but with concentrations in certain
locales such as SouthernCalifornia.6Many of the
commercialweightclinicsadvertise,operate on a
high profit marginand offerphysicians largesums
of moneytoaffiliatewith them whilemaking
minimal demands uponphysiciantime. Consequently,
with strong financialmotivationsfor the
continueduseof the Simeonsmethod,critical
objectiveevaluation seemed indicated. Among
the values claimed for thistreatment areless
hunger; differentialweightlosspredominantly
from thehipsandlegs,and less emotional difficulties
suchasdepression duringtreatment.To
put theseallegationstothetestthefollowing
randomized double-blind studywascarriedout.
From the Clinical ResearchCenter,and theDepartmentof
Medicine,Harbor GenerallHospital,Torrance,andUniversityof
California,LosAngeles,School of Medicine.
SubmittedFebruary 23,1977.
Thisinvestigationwassupportedin partbygrantRR 00425
fromtheNationalInstitutesofHealtlhandfromtheAmerican
Societyof BariatricPhysicians.
Reprintrequeststo:GeorgeA.Bray, MD,Harbor General
Hospital,1000 West CarsonStreet,Torrance,CA 90509.
PatientsandMethods
Patientsansweringanadvertisement for participation
in a treatment program forobesitywere
enrolled after payment of adepositwhich was
refundable uponcompletionof the study. The
participantsin this study were white women between
20 and 40 years of age, 152 and 172 cm
in height, and 20 percent to 60 percent overweight.
They were all ingoodhealth andhad
not received HCG previously nor were they receiving
anymedicationforobesity. Following physical
andlaboratory examinations, patientswere randomly
assignedintotwogroups,onereceiving
human chorionicgonadotropinand theother
receiving placebo injectionsof diluent.
The drugs werepreparedanddispensed bya
localpharmacist, accordingtocode number.Injections
weregivensixdaysaweek for sixweeks
andweightswereobtainedweekly.Themeasurement
of hungerwasevaluatedbythemethod of
Silverstone8and involvesaskingpatientsto
markaline betweenIand 9 basedontheirrating
ofhunger (1=nothungry;9=maximum hunger).
Thismeasurewasobtainedatthebeginning
and atthe endoftreatment.The circumference
of themidthigh,thechest,thehipsatthe iliac
crest, and themid-upperarm weremeasuredat
THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE461
CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN AND OBESITY
the beginning and end oftreatment to assessthe
possibilityoflocalizedfatreduction.Changes
in moodduringtreatmentwereassessedusingthe
Multiple AffectAdjectiveCheckList,whichrates
anxiety, hostilityanddepression.9Instructionsregarding
diet, cosmeticsandhandlingofpatients
at return visitswereidenticaltothose described
in thestudy reported previously byAsher and
Harper.'0Uponcompletionof thecourseof injections
the codewasbroken,and the datawere
tabulated andanalyzedby analysisof variance
usingan IBM 370 computer.
Results
Twentypatientswereenrolled in each group.
The onlysignificantdifferencebetweenthetwo
groupsonthe initialmeasurements was onthe
anxiety scale,where theHCGgroupwere more
anxious (p<.05)(Table1).Duringtreatment,
sevenpatientsin theplacebogroup andtwoin
the HCG group failedto meetthe minimumcriteria
TABLE1.-InitialValues for Clinici
InTwo Groupsof Pati
HCG*
Bodyweight (kg).81.4± 9.7
Circumferences(cm)
Biceps........33.3±2.8
Chest.........91.2± 8.4
Iliaccrest .....104.6± 9.9
Midthigh......58.2± 5.4
Hungerscore....3.3± 1.1
Anxietyscore....83.6±20.8
Hostilityscore. . .69.1±22.0
Depressionscore.74.1±24.5
for completion and were excluded from subsequent
analysis (X2 for difference in dropouts
betweengroups using the Yates correction was
2.294; p >0.10). The rate of weight loss is shown
in Figure 1. There were no significant differences
betweenthe two groups at any time. The initial
and final values for the anthropometric and psychological
variables are shown in Table 2. There
were nosignificant differences in the changes in
any of these variables between the beginning and
end of the treatment when comparing the patients
who started and finished.
CommentandDiscussion
In this trial of HCG and its diluent as a placebo,
there were no significant differences in the two
groups other than thegreateranxiety in the HCG
WEEKS OFTREATMENT
Figure 1.-Bodyweight during treatment with human
chorionicgonadotropin (o)or placebo(e).There was no
significant differenceat any time.
85-
alMeasurements
fents
Placebo* Ptw
3:
79.4± 8.4 .483
a0
33.0± 2.5 .881m
94.0±7.1
101.8± 11.2
57.4± 4.2
2.8± 1.2
63.2± 28.0
71.6±28.3
69.4±23.3
.255
.402
.681
.203
.017
.770
.557
*N=20
tProbabilitydetermined by analysis of variance for group differences.
TABLE2.-Initial and FinalValuesfor Clinical Data inHCG-Treated
andPlacebo-Treated Patients
HCG Placebo
Initial Final Initial FinalP
Bodyweight (kg)80.4± 2.3 71.6± 2.1 79.7 ±2.6 71.6± 2.3 .366
Circumferences(cm)
Arm .33.0±0.5 29.5±0.5 33.3±0.830.0±0.5.733
Chest .91.7±1.8 88.6±1.5 94.0±2.0 89.4±1.8 .405
Iliaccrest.103.9±2.395.0±2.0 100.6±3.8 92.5±2.3 .772
Midthigh.57.2±1.0 53.1±1.0 57.4±1.3 53.6±0.8 .285
Hungerscore.3.3±0.3 4.4±0.5 2.9±0.3 4.2±0.5 .709
Anxietyscore.85.1±5.0 64.5±5.4 67.1±8.1 65.4±6.1 .139
Hostilityscore.66.9± 5.2 66.4± 3.9 72.6±7.6 60.9± 6.7 .318
Depressionscore72.1±5.9 67.9±4.7 67.7±6.962.4±5.0.913
*Probabilitydetermined byanalysis of variance from F ratio for individual differences between initial
and final values.
462DECEMBER 1977 * 127 *6
CHORIONIC GONADOTROPINANDOBESITY
group before treatment. It is clear thatpatients
lost weightquite satisfactorily indicatingahigh
degree of adherencetothe 500 kilocalorie diet.
The injections of HCG, however,providedno additional
effectsthatcould notbe accountedfor
bythe diet alone. Weconclude, therefore, that
HCG used in the mannerprescribed bySimeons
does not enhance the rate ofweightloss, nor
does itsignificantlyreducehungerorchange the
ratings of anxiety,hostilityor depression.
Althoughanumberof other studiesusingHCG
in the treatment ofobesityhavebeen carried
out,1'there appeartobeonlytwothat found
HCG may beeffectiveintreating obesity. The
recentstudy by Steinandco-workers4wasdesigned
in muchthesame manner asthe present
study, except that moodratingswere not examined.
However,theyreached the same conclusion.
With thenowoverwhelming bodyof
evidencesuggesting thatHCGisno moreeffective
thanplacebointhetreatmentofobesity,itwould
seemthat furthereffortstoperpetuatethe Simeons
method couldonly be financially motivated.
Therefore,we feelthatthe 20 year history of
theuseofHCG in the treatment of obesity should
come to an end because injections of placebo
appear to be equally effective in allrespects.'2
REFERENCES
1. Simeons ATW: The action of chorionic gonadotropin in the
obese. Lancet 2:946-947,1954
2. Albrink MJ: Chorionic gonadotropin and obesity? Am J Clin
Nutr 22:681-685, 1969
3. Bray GA: The Obese Patient, Philadelphia, W B Saunders,
1976, chapter 9
4.Stein MR, JulisRE,Peck CC,et al: Ineffectivenessof
human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: Adoubleblind
study.Am J Clin Nutr29:940-948,1976
5. YoungRL,Fuchs RJ,WolfjenMJ: Chorionic gonadotropin
in weight control. JAMA 236:2495-2497, 1976
6. CroutJR: Chroionic gonadotropin. Federal Register39:
42397-42403,1974
7. BrayGA (Ed):Obesity inPerspective,Fogarty International
Center SeriesonPreventiveMedicine, Vol 2. Washington,
DC, US Government PrintingOffice,1976,pt1,p 7
8.Silverstone JT, TurnerP,HumphersonP: Direct measurement
of the anorecticactivityofdiethylpropion (Tenuate Dospan).
J Clin Pharmacol8:172-179,1968
9. ZuckermanM, Lubin B,Robins SJ:Validation oftheMultiple
AffectAdjectiveChecklist in clinical situations. J Consult
Psychol29:594,1965
10. AsherWL, HarperHW:Effectof human chorionic gonadotropin
onweightloss,hunger,andfeelingofwell-being.Am J
Clin Nutr26:211-218,1973
11. BrayGA, GreenwayFL:Pharmacological approachesto
treating the obesepatient.ClinicEndocrinol Metab5:455-479,
1976
12. Came S: The actionof chorionicgonadotropinintheobese.
Lancet2:1282-1284,1961
Protocol of Taking Blood Pressures in Children
Most oftenit's verydifficultin an office practice to take blood pressures in patients
under2and3 yearsofage.However,I thinkthere'sagreatneed forus to be
doingthis;andweneedtodevelopourtechniquesand our sensitivities to be able
todetermine bloodpressuresoneveryphysicalexaminationthat wedoon a
child.Ibelieve that pediatricians should deviseaspecial protocolintaking blood
pressures..-..Theyshould takeabloodpressure withthe patient standingor
sitting;andthentheyshould take the blood pressurefollowingexercise.Ithink
this wouldbeterribly important. Manyofusknow that whenachildfirstcomes
intoaphysician'sofficeand israthernervous,thechild'sbloodpressuremight
beelevatedasaresultandperhapstheresultsofablood pressuredetermination
doneathomebyaparentmightbemuchmoresignificant,sothat youcan use
this as a guideline.
-PHILIPL.CALGANO, MD,Washington,DC
ExtractedfromAudio-Digest Pediatrics,Vol.22,No. 1, in the
Audio-DigestFoundation'ssubscriptionseriesoftape-recorded
programs. Forsubscriptioninformation: 1577EastChevy
ChaseDrive, Glendale,CA 91206.
THE WESTERNJOURNAL OF MEDICINE463
I have reviewed many studies on the HCG Diet and as a Exercise Physiologist I don’t understand why people continued listening to horrible advice and easy quick fixes to their weight loss. The HCG Diet is horrible and doesn’t work to do to the human body and whomever is recommending this to people need to stop. People on this diet and who want fast fat loss or weight loss. WAKE UP!! Nothing works unless you eat right and you exercise, there are no shortcuts, just like having a successful business, a great marriage, or anything in life it takes work and moving in the right direction and there are never any easy way quick rich scams that work or quick fat loss plans that work. Stop fooling yourself, of course anything works temporally and people can lose a great deal a weight on any caloric restriction diet, but it’s not good long term. Please read this study and if you want I have many more I can send you and show you, why this isn’t good for you. Go Get Help from an Professional Fitness Trainer, or someone that can really help you get fit and stay fit, healthy, and active forever. Stop trying to find the easy way out and stop buying these diet and fitness scams.
Refer to: Greenway FL, Bray GA: Human chorionic gonadotropin
(HCG) in the treatment of obesity-A critical
assessment of the Simeons method. West J Med 127:
461-463, Dec 1977
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
( HCG ) inthe Treatmentof Obesity
A CriticalAssessmentof theSimeonsMethod
FRANK L. GREENWAY, MD, and GEORGE A. BRAY, MD, Torrance,California
Injections of human chorionic gonadotropin ( HCG ) have been claimed to aid
inweight reduction by reducing hunger, and affecting mood as well as aiding
inlocalized (spot) reduction. We have tested these claimsin adouble-blind
randomized trial usinginjectionsof HCG or placebo. Weight loss was identical
between thetwogroups, and there was no evidence for differential effects on
hunger, mood or localized body measurements.Placeboinjections,therefore,
appear to be as effective as HCG in the treatment of obesity.
THETREATMENT OFOBESITYwith diet and injections
of human chorionicgonadotropin(HCG)
wassuggested bySimeons in 19541 but its effectiveness
has never beenclearly established.2-5In
spiteof the tenuous scientific basis for treating
obesityin thisfashion,the method hasflourished
in commercialweight clinics throughoutthe
United States but with concentrations in certain
locales such as SouthernCalifornia.6Many of the
commercialweightclinicsadvertise,operate on a
high profit marginand offerphysicians largesums
of moneytoaffiliatewith them whilemaking
minimal demands uponphysiciantime. Consequently,
with strong financialmotivationsfor the
continueduseof the Simeonsmethod,critical
objectiveevaluation seemed indicated. Among
the values claimed for thistreatment areless
hunger; differentialweightlosspredominantly
from thehipsandlegs,and less emotional difficulties
suchasdepression duringtreatment.To
put theseallegationstothetestthefollowing
randomized double-blind studywascarriedout.
From the Clinical ResearchCenter,and theDepartmentof
Medicine,Harbor GenerallHospital,Torrance,andUniversityof
California,LosAngeles,School of Medicine.
SubmittedFebruary 23,1977.
Thisinvestigationwassupportedin partbygrantRR 00425
fromtheNationalInstitutesofHealtlhandfromtheAmerican
Societyof BariatricPhysicians.
Reprintrequeststo:GeorgeA.Bray, MD,Harbor General
Hospital,1000 West CarsonStreet,Torrance,CA 90509.
PatientsandMethods
Patientsansweringanadvertisement for participation
in a treatment program forobesitywere
enrolled after payment of adepositwhich was
refundable uponcompletionof the study. The
participantsin this study were white women between
20 and 40 years of age, 152 and 172 cm
in height, and 20 percent to 60 percent overweight.
They were all ingoodhealth andhad
not received HCG previously nor were they receiving
anymedicationforobesity. Following physical
andlaboratory examinations, patientswere randomly
assignedintotwogroups,onereceiving
human chorionicgonadotropinand theother
receiving placebo injectionsof diluent.
The drugs werepreparedanddispensed bya
localpharmacist, accordingtocode number.Injections
weregivensixdaysaweek for sixweeks
andweightswereobtainedweekly.Themeasurement
of hungerwasevaluatedbythemethod of
Silverstone8and involvesaskingpatientsto
markaline betweenIand 9 basedontheirrating
ofhunger (1=nothungry;9=maximum hunger).
Thismeasurewasobtainedatthebeginning
and atthe endoftreatment.The circumference
of themidthigh,thechest,thehipsatthe iliac
crest, and themid-upperarm weremeasuredat
THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE461
CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN AND OBESITY
the beginning and end oftreatment to assessthe
possibilityoflocalizedfatreduction.Changes
in moodduringtreatmentwereassessedusingthe
Multiple AffectAdjectiveCheckList,whichrates
anxiety, hostilityanddepression.9Instructionsregarding
diet, cosmeticsandhandlingofpatients
at return visitswereidenticaltothose described
in thestudy reported previously byAsher and
Harper.'0Uponcompletionof thecourseof injections
the codewasbroken,and the datawere
tabulated andanalyzedby analysisof variance
usingan IBM 370 computer.
Results
Twentypatientswereenrolled in each group.
The onlysignificantdifferencebetweenthetwo
groupsonthe initialmeasurements was onthe
anxiety scale,where theHCGgroupwere more
anxious (p<.05)(Table1).Duringtreatment,
sevenpatientsin theplacebogroup andtwoin
the HCG group failedto meetthe minimumcriteria
TABLE1.-InitialValues for Clinici
InTwo Groupsof Pati
HCG*
Bodyweight (kg).81.4± 9.7
Circumferences(cm)
Biceps........33.3±2.8
Chest.........91.2± 8.4
Iliaccrest .....104.6± 9.9
Midthigh......58.2± 5.4
Hungerscore....3.3± 1.1
Anxietyscore....83.6±20.8
Hostilityscore. . .69.1±22.0
Depressionscore.74.1±24.5
for completion and were excluded from subsequent
analysis (X2 for difference in dropouts
betweengroups using the Yates correction was
2.294; p >0.10). The rate of weight loss is shown
in Figure 1. There were no significant differences
betweenthe two groups at any time. The initial
and final values for the anthropometric and psychological
variables are shown in Table 2. There
were nosignificant differences in the changes in
any of these variables between the beginning and
end of the treatment when comparing the patients
who started and finished.
CommentandDiscussion
In this trial of HCG and its diluent as a placebo,
there were no significant differences in the two
groups other than thegreateranxiety in the HCG
WEEKS OFTREATMENT
Figure 1.-Bodyweight during treatment with human
chorionicgonadotropin (o)or placebo(e).There was no
significant differenceat any time.
85-
alMeasurements
fents
Placebo* Ptw
3:
79.4± 8.4 .483
a0
33.0± 2.5 .881m
94.0±7.1
101.8± 11.2
57.4± 4.2
2.8± 1.2
63.2± 28.0
71.6±28.3
69.4±23.3
.255
.402
.681
.203
.017
.770
.557
*N=20
tProbabilitydetermined by analysis of variance for group differences.
TABLE2.-Initial and FinalValuesfor Clinical Data inHCG-Treated
andPlacebo-Treated Patients
HCG Placebo
Initial Final Initial FinalP
Bodyweight (kg)80.4± 2.3 71.6± 2.1 79.7 ±2.6 71.6± 2.3 .366
Circumferences(cm)
Arm .33.0±0.5 29.5±0.5 33.3±0.830.0±0.5.733
Chest .91.7±1.8 88.6±1.5 94.0±2.0 89.4±1.8 .405
Iliaccrest.103.9±2.395.0±2.0 100.6±3.8 92.5±2.3 .772
Midthigh.57.2±1.0 53.1±1.0 57.4±1.3 53.6±0.8 .285
Hungerscore.3.3±0.3 4.4±0.5 2.9±0.3 4.2±0.5 .709
Anxietyscore.85.1±5.0 64.5±5.4 67.1±8.1 65.4±6.1 .139
Hostilityscore.66.9± 5.2 66.4± 3.9 72.6±7.6 60.9± 6.7 .318
Depressionscore72.1±5.9 67.9±4.7 67.7±6.962.4±5.0.913
*Probabilitydetermined byanalysis of variance from F ratio for individual differences between initial
and final values.
462DECEMBER 1977 * 127 *6
CHORIONIC GONADOTROPINANDOBESITY
group before treatment. It is clear thatpatients
lost weightquite satisfactorily indicatingahigh
degree of adherencetothe 500 kilocalorie diet.
The injections of HCG, however,providedno additional
effectsthatcould notbe accountedfor
bythe diet alone. Weconclude, therefore, that
HCG used in the mannerprescribed bySimeons
does not enhance the rate ofweightloss, nor
does itsignificantlyreducehungerorchange the
ratings of anxiety,hostilityor depression.
Althoughanumberof other studiesusingHCG
in the treatment ofobesityhavebeen carried
out,1'there appeartobeonlytwothat found
HCG may beeffectiveintreating obesity. The
recentstudy by Steinandco-workers4wasdesigned
in muchthesame manner asthe present
study, except that moodratingswere not examined.
However,theyreached the same conclusion.
With thenowoverwhelming bodyof
evidencesuggesting thatHCGisno moreeffective
thanplacebointhetreatmentofobesity,itwould
seemthat furthereffortstoperpetuatethe Simeons
method couldonly be financially motivated.
Therefore,we feelthatthe 20 year history of
theuseofHCG in the treatment of obesity should
come to an end because injections of placebo
appear to be equally effective in allrespects.'2
REFERENCES
1. Simeons ATW: The action of chorionic gonadotropin in the
obese. Lancet 2:946-947,1954
2. Albrink MJ: Chorionic gonadotropin and obesity? Am J Clin
Nutr 22:681-685, 1969
3. Bray GA: The Obese Patient, Philadelphia, W B Saunders,
1976, chapter 9
4.Stein MR, JulisRE,Peck CC,et al: Ineffectivenessof
human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: Adoubleblind
study.Am J Clin Nutr29:940-948,1976
5. YoungRL,Fuchs RJ,WolfjenMJ: Chorionic gonadotropin
in weight control. JAMA 236:2495-2497, 1976
6. CroutJR: Chroionic gonadotropin. Federal Register39:
42397-42403,1974
7. BrayGA (Ed):Obesity inPerspective,Fogarty International
Center SeriesonPreventiveMedicine, Vol 2. Washington,
DC, US Government PrintingOffice,1976,pt1,p 7
8.Silverstone JT, TurnerP,HumphersonP: Direct measurement
of the anorecticactivityofdiethylpropion (Tenuate Dospan).
J Clin Pharmacol8:172-179,1968
9. ZuckermanM, Lubin B,Robins SJ:Validation oftheMultiple
AffectAdjectiveChecklist in clinical situations. J Consult
Psychol29:594,1965
10. AsherWL, HarperHW:Effectof human chorionic gonadotropin
onweightloss,hunger,andfeelingofwell-being.Am J
Clin Nutr26:211-218,1973
11. BrayGA, GreenwayFL:Pharmacological approachesto
treating the obesepatient.ClinicEndocrinol Metab5:455-479,
1976
12. Came S: The actionof chorionicgonadotropinintheobese.
Lancet2:1282-1284,1961
Protocol of Taking Blood Pressures in Children
Most oftenit's verydifficultin an office practice to take blood pressures in patients
under2and3 yearsofage.However,I thinkthere'sagreatneed forus to be
doingthis;andweneedtodevelopourtechniquesand our sensitivities to be able
todetermine bloodpressuresoneveryphysicalexaminationthat wedoon a
child.Ibelieve that pediatricians should deviseaspecial protocolintaking blood
pressures..-..Theyshould takeabloodpressure withthe patient standingor
sitting;andthentheyshould take the blood pressurefollowingexercise.Ithink
this wouldbeterribly important. Manyofusknow that whenachildfirstcomes
intoaphysician'sofficeand israthernervous,thechild'sbloodpressuremight
beelevatedasaresultandperhapstheresultsofablood pressuredetermination
doneathomebyaparentmightbemuchmoresignificant,sothat youcan use
this as a guideline.
-PHILIPL.CALGANO, MD,Washington,DC
ExtractedfromAudio-Digest Pediatrics,Vol.22,No. 1, in the
Audio-DigestFoundation'ssubscriptionseriesoftape-recorded
programs. Forsubscriptioninformation: 1577EastChevy
ChaseDrive, Glendale,CA 91206.
THE WESTERNJOURNAL OF MEDICINE463