How does the hcg diet work?

Only 500 calorie/day: The HCG diet has a person eating 500 calories a day for more than a month. That's just one big slice of pizza a day. A 4-month old baby eats 500 calories a day. Anybody on 500 calories a day is on a starvation diet and will lose weight. It doesn't sound safe. Extremely low calorie diets don't work because the weight comes back when one starts eating again. Long-term lifestyle changes are needed.

Not very well.: The weight loss is due to the severe caloric restriction. In men with low testosterone and normal testicles, it may work better because the HCG will increase the testosterone level. In women, HCG may increase progesterone. Higher Progesterone may lead to less anxiety and therefore less eating. Overall, smart eating plus increased activity is a better choice.

Affects hypothalamus: The HCG diet was originally developed by a.T.W. Simeons M.D. During the 1940's -1950's. It has been used all over the world for over 50 years. This method is extremely safe & effective when used under the care of an experienced & trained md. Apparently HCG has an effect on your hypothalamus, increasing adiponectin levels & reducing leptin resistance. The method must be followed strictly to work.

Absolutely: You must do the diet under supervision of a qualified physician, injectable HCG not drops, and strict adherence to the original 500 calorie diet and not a modified version of it with higher calories. You can lose 1-2 lbs of fat per day. Some physicians call this diet dangerous or won't work, but lack an understanding about the diet and it's proven safety. In use since 1950s.