The Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone produced exclusively during pregnancy, which is found in the urine. This is used in feeding the fetus with nutrients inside the mother's womb which is made available anytime that the fetus needs it because this hormone is stored as an abnormal fat inside the mother's body.

It was Dr. ATW Simeons who discovered during the 1950's that when this hormone is given in small doses to overweight individuals, their appetite was reduced and was observed to lose weight in the areas of the hips, thighs, buttocks and stomachs. This is how the HGC diet started as a weight loss program. It asserts that it is one of the safest and fastest ways of losing weight. It is being projected as a revolutionizing health strategy as it advocates new way of thinking about and consuming food.

When HCG is injected in the body or put under the tongue to release as drops, it is able to connect with the stored fat and used it. When this is accompanied by a low calorie diet, the person is said to be surviving more on the stored fat rather than on what they are eating in which 3500-4000 calories of stored fat daily is burned which translate to a weight decrease of 1-2 pounds daily. With HCG, a dieter only needs to have an intake of 500 calories. Because of this, dieters sleep more soundly and comfortably, hence they have more energy and vitality. The consumption of 500 calories comprises of proteins, fruits and vegetables. A not so physically exhausting exercise, such as brisk walking, is suggested in this diet. It is a novel way of improving health as it is now flaunted as a new way perceiving food.

HCG diet package contains either 26, 40 or 80 day supply of HCG drops, vitamin B-complex, HCG diet manual, diet recipes, HCG diet protocol, helpful tips, grocery list and a free support. Its cost varies- from $ 79 - $ 320 without the inclusion for the payment of shipping as it is offered as having no cost at all.

So, what do the experts say about this highly controversial HCG? According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology which published a research in 1995 that is contrary to the claim of HCG diet which concludes that there is evidence shown that HCG indeed fights off weight reduction. Likewise, the American Society of Bariatric Physicians through its position paper in December 2009 issued that they are not recommending HCG as a weight loss diet. Dr. Stephen Barrett, the director of QuckWatch.org was quoted as saying that "scientific studies have shown that HCG injections do not cause weight loss." As early as 1995, the FDA has been saying that HCG is not a weight loss but had stamped its approval of HCG as a fertility drug.

Nutritionists have been saying that the permissible calorie intake is low and this has been highlighted more by scientific community findings that that it does not feed a person at all. This makes a person likely to starve and possibly result to the loss of muscle mass.

Despite these startling scientific revelations, HCG continues to attract users and has been offering mouth-watering promotional strategies to win over followers.