hCG Weight Loss Program: Is It Better Than Bariatric Surgery?

The hCG Weight Loss Program: Bariatric Surgery Compared with hCG Weight Loss

More than two-thirds of all American adults are overweight or obese, and more than one-third are clinically obese. If you are one of the millions of Americans trying to lose weight, you have probably considered unconventional weight loss options. Bariatric surgery is one of the most popular options for those who need to lose significant amounts of weight for health reasons. This surgery is regarded as a relatively safe medical procedure and results in considerable long-term weight loss in various studies. Another more recent phenomenon in the weight loss industry is a supplement known as hCG. This supplement is typically administered through injections and is often marketed as a fast and natural alternative to traditional and surgical weight loss methods. This guide will compare and contrast the hCG weight loss program with bariatric surgery, weighing the risks and benefits.

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hCG Weight Loss Program Overview

hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that is secreted in the urine throughout pregnancy. The ideal use of the hCG weight loss hormone is to suppress your appetite and increase your metabolism throughout the weight loss process. Injections are supposed to ensure that the hormone takes effect almost immediately, kicking these changes into gear and fueling your weight loss. Several popular plans promise weight loss of a pound per day within the first thirty days of using the hCG supplements. For this reason, many people find themselves drawn to this supplement as a means of extreme weight loss in a short period of time. The distributors of the supplement also claim that it is a completely natural way to promote weight loss and is just like any other supplement.

Bariatric Surgery Overview

Although many different forms of bariatric surgery are available, gastric bypass surgery is by far the most popular. The surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen, through which a laparoscope is inserted. Laparoscopic surgeries are generally regarded as safer and less invasive than traditional surgeries, and the recovery time is usually much shorter. For gastric bypass, the surgeon limits the area of the stomach that can absorb food, making it impossible to consume more than a single cup of food within one sitting. This approach immediately restricts your caloric intake while promoting a feeling of fullness from the small amount you are able to eat. Although some forms of bariatric surgery can be reversed, such as the Lap-Band procedure, most are considered permanent.

Risks and Potential Complications of hCG

Not only are hCG supplements questionable in terms of effectiveness, but the FDA actually imposed a ban on selling these supplements as a homeopathic remedy for weight loss. The biggest risk with hCG injections is finding a reliable source. Most plans that recommend the use of this supplement restrict caloric intake to an extreme, which can cause serious health issues. If you are not consulting a physician about your weight loss, beginning any plan that involves extreme caloric restriction is inadvisable. Bariatric surgery patients are closely monitored by their health-care providers, while anyone can obtain hCG supplements. hCG generally promotes a feeling of fullness, even if the body’s nutritional needs are not met. This situation can lead to malnutrition and other serious side effects.

Risks and Potential Complications of Bariatric Surgery

Even though bariatric surgery is generally regarded as a safe procedure with minimal recovery time, some potential risks remain. In rare cases, people who have had bariatric surgery experience hernias, allergic reactions to the medications they are prescribed before and after surgery, or gastrointestinal problems. As with any surgery, infection during the recovery process is possible. The recovery time for bariatric surgery is generally limited to several weeks, after which most people feel able to resume normal work activities. Fortunately, most risks associated with bariatric surgery are easily treated and, in many cases, completely preventable with proper postoperative care.

Long-Term Effectiveness of hCG Weight Loss

hCG supplements have not been proven effective at encouraging weight loss on their own. Some studies suggest that there is a significant difference in effectiveness between injectable and oral hCG. Injectable hCG is generally believed to be more effective than its oral counterpart, but neither is guaranteed or backed by significant research. In fact, in one major survey of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, the professional consensus was that they would not recommend the use of the supplement for weight loss. Most plans that recommend hCG also require severely restricted caloric intakes, and cutting your calories alone will result in weight loss. No scientific evidence shows that hCG alone—rather than a restricted calorie plan—results in weight loss, making it an uncertain option that may or may not be worth the various risks associated with it.

Long-Term Effectiveness of Bariatric Surgery

If you undergo bariatric surgery, you can expect to see a 30 to 50 percent weight reduction in the long term. This figure is staggering compared with the outlooks of other weight loss programs and methods. While the weight loss that occurs as a result of bariatric surgery is rapid, the procedure boasts great long-term success compared with traditional diet and exercise programs. Although bariatric surgery restricts your caloric intake, as do traditional diets, the surgery allows you to feel full in spite of eating smaller quantities. Many people find that the feeling of fullness enables them to focus on other things besides food and feel satisfied with what they eat. This scenario makes bariatric surgery an especially effective treatment for compulsive eaters or those who never feel satisfied with their meals.

Overall Comparison

When summing up the differences between the hCG supplements and bariatric surgery, you need to consider both effectiveness and safety. While the risks associated with hCG weight loss supplements depend on the quality of the supplement, there is no guarantee that the supplement will actually work. Bariatric surgery is known to be successful in helping people lose weight and keep it off long term, making it the clear winner when it comes to safety and efficiency. hCG supplements are generally a dubious and, in many cases, illegal remedy for weight loss. Bariatric surgery is a guaranteed way to lose weight that dramatically increases your chances of maintaining your weight loss.