Is it safe to use human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for weight loss?
Bariatric medicine specialist Dr. Craig Primack discusses whether or not it's safe to use human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for weight loss. Watch Dr. Primack's video for information on obesity, bariatrics and weight loss.
Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] We believe HCG to increase both estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen and testosterone are not used in weight loss
unless someone is deficient in them because of a lot of reasons. The number one reason is it increases the risk of blood clots.
HCG as it's currently used comes in two forms. There's an injectable form and an oral form. First of all, we believe the oral form
to be nothing more than placebo. As we know about protein, as you take certain proteins into your mouth, it gets digested by the stomach.
So even if your dose or your bottle of HCG has actual HCG in it, we don't think that it's
reaching your bloodstream. So the second question then comes into the injectable form. And at times, it can be dangerous for you.
We believe HCG to increase both estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen and testosterone are not used in weight loss
unless someone is deficient in them because of a lot of reasons. The number one reason is it increases the risk of blood clots.
If you have estrogen receptive cancers, which unfortunately, in women, is breast cancer and uterine cancer for sure--
and there are a few others. And in men, it's prostate cancer. And if you have any of those cancers or a history or a risk of any of those cancers, HCG should be used--
well, very controlled, if-- but most likely, not at all. [AUDIO LOGO]
weight management
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