I have a few friends who have recently begun the diet by Dr. Simeons in which they inject themselves with hormones (HCG Diet) and eat only 500 calories a day and can only eat specifically what they are told. One of them said they asked their doctor about it and he said it was fine. I am concerned that it is not safe. Can you tell me what you think? J.R.

Dear J.R.: One of the advantages of growing older is the ability to recognize fads when they re-emerge.
The Simeons' HCG diet was first introduced in 1954. Dr. Simeons' theory was not that HCG would enhance weight loss, but that it would reduce hunger pangs on a very low calorie diet. A host of subsequent studies have shown that the weight loss with the use of HCG is not greater than weight loss with the low calorie diet alone. Furthermore, they have demonstrated that HCG does not decrease food cravings or improve the dieter's sense of well-being.
People who are paying for the shots are somewhat more likely to stay on the low calorie diet because of the investment they are making, but they are unlikely to achieve any real benefit.
Anyone on a very low calorie diet (less than 1200 calories per day) should be under careful supervision, as nutritional deficiencies are quite common. In addition, very low calorie diets cause the body' metabolism to slow down. As a result, when people do start eating again nearly all will wind up at a higher weight than when they started on the diet. – Dr. Dale