The Food and Drug Administration last week posted a warning on its website against homeopathic products containing the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that are used for weight loss with severe 500-calories-per-day dieting. The agency also notes that a 500-calorie-a-day diet poses a variety of health risks, including malnutrition, gallstones, electrolyte imbalance and irregular heartbeat. The notice states that
selling over-the-counter products containing hCG is illegal. While the hormone is approved for use by prescription to treat female infertility it is not approved as a weight-loss drug.
