Actually, no. HCG has been studied, if you read the citations I link to. It is demonstrably ineffective at modifying any relevant measure of obesity or weight loss.

If you are aware of data to show otherwise, please provide the citation.

The data to answer this question aren’t included because these studies evaluate efficacy for weight loss. And those from both groups that make it to the end generally lose about the same weight on the 500 calorie diet.

But, and this is huge, the studies removed from their calculations those who dropped out of the study. More importantly, a much higher number of placebo than HCG subjects dropped out. Ask yourself what keeping these subjects in the study would do to the calculation. Undoubtedly, weight loss among the HCG group would be statistically significantly higher.

In fairness to the researchers, these studies are designed to examine impact on weight loss, not the extent to which a person can stick to the diet. So I don’t dispute the studies. But the study objectives, hence, conclusions don’t match the intended use of HCG in weight loss.

I don’t think a study has yet been completed that sets out to test this, but several of the studies already published do establish, if inadvertently, that HCG improves a subject’s ability to stick to the low calorie program.

Belief, even your obviously strong belief, is not science. Take a closer look and ask yourself if there has yet been a study that evaluates HCG’s effectiveness in maintaining a diet protocol. There is more research to be done to establish conclusively that HCG does or does not work in weight loss.

if Health Canada gives it the thumbs up, then there must be some validation to the diet.

Unfortunately, no. While pharmaceutical (and biologic) drug review is pretty thorough, the review of natural health products (as Scott has commented on in the past) is distressingly bad, with standards of evidence that accept traditional use, or “expert opinion reports” rather than solid clinical evidence. Health Canada approval of a NHP is by itself rather meaningless, thanks to the watered-down evidence requirements. While some NHPs may indeed live up to their claims, there is no guarantee that a claim can be trusted.