Does the HCG diet work?
I get men and women that contact me looking for a way to reverse the damage from being on the HCG diet. Although, nothing may be "reversed" good whole nutrition is what I recommend and start them on a wellness journey.

Curtesy of Chris Rost, PA-

HCG CLAIMS:

"HCG burns 3000 calories a day"
FALSE - only metabolic body functions and exercise can burn calories

"HCG causes permanent weight loss"
FALSE - nothing can cause permanent weight loss
 
"HCG causes significant weight loss"
FALSE - the weight loss comes only from the 500 calorie diet

"HCG removes fat from specific areas"
 FALSE - there is no magical fat relocating substance

"HCG causes you to not be hungry"
FALSE - any starvation diet will naturally cause you to be less hungry

"HCG gives you more energy"
FALSE - your increase in energy comes from weight loss

HCG is not FDA approved for weight loss. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm281333.htm

The HCG diet may promote eating disorders.The 500 calorie diet is not good medicine or smart nutrition. The people who claim otherwise are the people profitting from this.
There is no legitimate scientific evidence HCG does anything it claims.


Curtesy of Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., L.D.-

No on both counts. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers to steer clear of over-the-counter weight-loss products that contain HCG.

HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy. As a prescription medication, HCG is used mainly to treat fertility issues. HCG is not approved for over-the-counter use, nor has it been proved to work for weight loss. Companies that sell over-the-counter HCG weight-loss products are breaking the law.

So why has there been so much talk about the HCG diet? Perhaps it's because the diet recommends severe calorie restriction — typically just 500 to 800 calories a day. People who follow such a very low calorie diet are likely to lose weight, at least in the short term. However, that level of calorie restriction has risks, such as gallstone formation, irregular heartbeat, and an imbalance of the electrolytes that keep the body's muscles and nerves functioning properly.

If weight loss is your goal, there are safer ways to lose weight.
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I'll also add that restricting caloric intake to 500-800 calories also restricts minerals, trace minerals, proteins, and other essential nutrients, creating nutritional deficiencies.

There have been reports of individuals experiencing hair loss, saggy skin, lethargy, mental fog while on HCG.

Another area of concern is the wasting of lean mass or catabolism. Not having the right amounts of usable proteins affects lean mass stability or development.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hcg-diet/AN02091