Weight Loss & Diet Plans

The Truth About hCG for Weight Loss

Potential Health Risks continued...

Minimum calorie levels are closer to 1200-1500 daily to satisfy hunger, fuel daily activities, and provide all the nutrients you need for good health each day.

When calories consumed are so low or close to starvation level, your body not only burns fat, but also muscle mass can be used for fuel. The last thing any dieter needs is to lose precious muscle mass, because that is what keeps your metabolism at its best. Not only will you lose fat and muscle, odds are the weight lost will return and when it does, it usually returns as all fat.

The bottom line: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Besides, if losing weight were as simple as promised by the hCG diet, why would the obesity epidemic continue to exist in the U.S.?

Studies show the best diet is the one you can stick with. And there is little chance anyone can stick with this diet plan. Choose a diet that works for your lifestyle, but don’t choose one that requires expensive and worthless hCG.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.