Diet trends come and go, but one is gaining in popularity- the use of HCG. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that is normally found to be elevated in the body of a pregnant woman. The hormone helps protect the fetus in a pregnant woman’s body, by converting body fat into energy. Over the years, many people have begun using HCG as a diet supplement. In the 1950’s, a British doctor by the name of A.T.W. Simeons, popularized the HCG weight loss program, in conjunction with a very restrive, 500 calorie a day diet program. Recently, other weight loss experts have also developed programs involving the HCG hormone, and it is readily available in droplet and injectable form on the internet. Many medical experts though, have denied the efficacy of HCG in diet programs. It has not been approved for use as a dietary aid by the F.D.A. and many major medical journals have delivered warnings about the use of HCG in diet programs. Rona Ewart is a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Carolina’s Hospital in Florence, and says medical science has put a damper on claims of HCG’s effectiveness as a dietary aid.