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Subscribe to RSSWeight-loss products containing the hormone HCG are illegal and potentially dangerous, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today, and consumers are advised to steer clear of the oral drops, pellets and sprays that can be found online and in retail stores.
The FDA, along with the Federal Trade Commission, issued warning letters today to seven companies selling over-the-counter, homeopathic weight-loss products marketed as containing HCG.
The products are marketed with claims that hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, which is found in the urine of pregnant women, is a "natural" way to increase metabolism and spur weight loss.
But the products are labeled with the recommendation to consume no more than 500 calories a day, and there is no evidence that HCG contributes to weight loss beyond what comes with such severe a calorie restriction, said Elizabeth Miller of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, speaking at a news conference today.
There are no FDA-approved weight-loss products that contain HCG, and HCG products that are marketed for weight loss are unproven and potentially unsafe, Miller said.
Moreover, limiting calorie intake to 500 calories a day is unhealthy, and increases risk of developing gallstones, heart arrhythmias and electrolyte imbalances, Miller said.
"The weight-loss industry, perhaps more than any other, is fad-driven," said Richard Cleland, an assistant director at the Federal Trade Commission. "It's also fraud-driven," Cleland said, citing the past examples of products containing the plant Hoodia gordonii and acai berries, which were also marketed as weight loss products without evidence of being effective or safe.
Neither agency had data available on how many consumers have bought such products, but the heavy marketing on the Internet indicates there are many purchasers, Cleland said. A recent survey showed that almost 5 million Americans each year are victims of weight-loss fraud, he said.
The warning letters inform the companies that they are violating federal law because they are advertising products without having reliable scientific evidence that their claims are true. Letters were issued to Nutri Fusion Systems, Inc, Natural Medical Supply, LLC DBA HCG Complete Diet, HCG Platinum, LLC, Theoriginalhcgdrogs.com, HCG Diet Direct, LLC, Hcg-miracleweightloss.com and HCG Drops, LLC.
Other companies marketing similar products should also take action to correct any violations, Cleland said.
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That's great FDA! Now when are you going to start stepping on the other "bull@!$%#" medical scams on TV? How bout you start with "dispensing pharmacies", or direct to consumer prescription drug ads. Of course everyone knows that the USA is the ONLY country other than New Zealand that permits this. Ah yes! The free market at work!
Could never get the press to look at this since it would deplete advertising revenues and might limit the salaries of their overpaid star reporters.
Would this be the same FDA that's telling us that unpasteurized organic milk is bad for you? You know the stuff the Pilgrims and the settlers of the west were swilling. See for your self. . . . .
Go to you tube and search for . . . .
"Raw Milk Raid On Organic Store In Los Angeles"
I tried to include the link but it wouldn't take.
Oh raw milk, classic. Louis Pasteur would disagree with you. He noticed milk was killing lots of people. Of course since the bacteria in raw milk can be passed human to human, when you drink raw milk knowing taking a risk that can be avoided, and come into contact with me, I could get sick. Kids you gave raw milk to a child then it died from food born illness, then the parent would be at fault for the child's death. But I guess since people claim raw milk has magical effects its ok if you get sick and die.
Sounds like a fetish.
Good, companies should be not legally allowed to make unproven medical claims about a drug. Of course this is homeopathy which the scientific community discredited over a 100 years ago, so there is no possibility that is works.
the problem is that it actually works...not only do you loose the weight but your cholesterol goes down and so does high blood pressure....what is happening is that patients are going to their doctors and they are lowering their medications....if you lower the meds or are taken off them completely what happens...that Pharma companies loose money... so now they don't make $ and people are no longer over weight..no more heart disease, diabetes etc..and the pharam companies don't make money...REMEMBER Pharma owns the FDA....
I injected myself with HCG for 50 days. I ate 8 ounces of lean meat, 2 servings of fruit and tons of fresh vegetables every day. I lost 35 pounds and felt great while doing it. Not a problem for me!
Seriously?! "Potentially dangerous"? Please point me to one instance of serious injury and/or death. That's right, its not there. Consumers can figure it out for themselves. If it doesn't work, they won't buy it. Why doesn't the FDA stop wasting tax payer dollars on BS and start cracking down on drug companies that are actually KILLING people. MSNBC, you're pathetic for publishing this trash. But then again, you probably won't be getting any big ad contracts from a little homeopathic remedy company. Very sad.
I work with overweight clients everyday and have had great success with the HCG diet. I have over 75 clients that have lost their goal wieght and couldn't believe how well the HCG diet worked. In fact several of them have come off their diabetes medication. Not one had ANY side effects. What facts do the FDA have and I am sure it was not caused by following the HCG diet alone!!!!! HCG has allowed people with obesity to final lose weight healthy and forever!!
it actually works...not only do you loose the weight but your cholesterol goes down and so does high blood pressure....what is happening is that patients are going to their doctors and they are lowering their medications....if you lower the meds or are taken off them completely what happens...that Pharma companies loose money... so now they don't make $ and people are no longer over weight..no more heart disease, diabetes etc..and the pharam companies don't make money...REMEMBER Pharma owns the FDA.... They don't want people to be healthy.....healthy people don't go on prescriptions....
This diet works because of the calorie restriction. Consequently the claims about reduced cholesterol and reduction of diabetes meds are due to weight loss only, they have nothing to do with HCG. If you lose weight by other (more healthy) means such as exercise you will see the same increase in health.
HCG simply reduces appetite to allow the 500 calorie diet.
I have tried so many diets. None worked as well as this one. I did weight watchers and I felt like I was deprived of food for the 6 months I was on it. I only lost 10 lbs on weight watchers in 6 months and I gained it all back!
I decided to try the HCG diet and I am so happy that I did. I went from a size 12 to a size 4 in 3 weeks. HCG not only helps you lose weight but it also helps your lose inches. After trying so many other diets that claimed to work I was very skeptic about HCG. But once I stepped on the scale each day and saw 1 to 2 lbs weight loss I was absolutely amazed!! That alone kept me motivated!!
HCG works by helping your body to release stored fat for energy. As a result of burning this excess fat, you can lose 1-2 pounds of fat per day. It helps reset metabolism and fat regulation so the body no longer is triggered into storing unneeded fat when you are off the diet.
I know so many people put HCG down, but it is funny how these people are the ones who have never tried or experienced the weight loss for themselves. How can anyone who has never done the diet offer advice?
I did a lot of research on the different manufacturers of HCG and found that they are not all reputable. I have posted the site of the company I bought from at the bottom of this post. They are FDA inspected and GMP approved.
I have been off the HCG diet for almost a year now and I have NOT gained any of the weight I lost back. I have never felt better in my life.
HCG is a miracle.