The FDA has warned consumers against HCG weight-loss products/Source: HCG Diet
There are hundreds of products on the market claiming to be successful weight loss aids. From pills to cleanses to shakes, the options peppering shelves at supermarkets and pharmacies seem endless. Some of these products are harmless; however, the U.S. government has declared a certain homeopathic option unsafe, and is taking steps to remove the product from store shelves.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission sent seven warning letters to companies marketing a hormone, known as human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG, as a weight loss aid. This hormone is found in the human placenta and in the urine of pregnant women. In an article written by Reuters Health News, these companies never received approval from the FDA to sell these products.
The HCG products come in oral drops, pellets or sprays. Consumers are instructed to take the remedy in combination with a low calorie diet — something health consumers say is dangerous. “These HCG products marketed over-the-counter are unproven to help with weight loss and are potentially dangerous even if taken as directed,” said Ilisa Bernstein, acting director of the Office of Compliance in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “And a very low calorie diet should only be used under proper medical supervision.”
While diet and exercise are the recommended answers for weight loss, many people seek shortcuts – either through the aid of weight-loss supplements or with the help of a plastic surgeon for liposuction or the new lap-band surgery that shrinks the size of the stomach to help with weight loss. Surgery isn’t for everyone; but when it comes to those fighting to lose stubborn belly fat or dangerous excess weight, plastic surgery may be an option. In all cases, doctors say it’s always best to talk with your primary health care provider rather than taking advice from misleading advertisements. “Deceptive advertising about weight loss products is one of the most prevalent types of fraud,” said David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Any advertiser who makes health claims about a product is required by federal law to back them up with competent and reliable scientific evidence, so consumers have the accurate information they need to make good decisions.”
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As for the HCG products, the FDA is advising everyone to stay away them. The companies currently marketing the products have 15 days to make changes, after that the FDA can take legal action and seize the products.
But when it comes to plastic surgery, patients can achieve safe, natural-looking and successful results provided they first seek out the opinion and services of a board-certified surgical professional. No surgery is without risks; but at the San Diego plastic surgery offices of Dr. Stuart B. Kincaid, patients will receive a custom safety and aesthetics consultation to discuss their medical history, weight-loss goals and concerns, and to determine the procedure – be it liposuction, thigh-lift surgery, butt-lift surgery or otherwise – that’s right for them.
With over 27 years of experience in the field and numerous awards and professional memberships throughout the plastic surgery community, Dr. Stuart B. Kincaid is an ideal choice for those seeking top-quality medical advice concerning weight loss plastic surgery and related procedures. To learn more, visit us online at www.skincaidmd.com or call our San Diego/La Jolla office (858-450-4199) or our Temecula office (951-695-9934) today.
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Tags: Board certified Plastic Surgeon, body contouring, liposuction, San Diego Plastic Surgery
