The case of obesity in Australia has become alarming over time. In 2014, approximately 36% of the adult population was considered overweight 1. This is equivalent to 6 million Australians aged 18 and above with a BMI range of 25 kg/m2 to 30 kg/m2.
Given the worrisome situation, fad diets are swarming the country, promising consumers significant weight loss. Among the popular ones are the keto diet and HCG diet which the consumers must be knowledgeable about before embarking on the program.
Ketogenic Diet and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Diet
Both the keto and HCG diets are low-carb diet plans that drive the body to a state of ketosis, albeit they differ in the selection of stored fat to convert to energy. The Keto diet, however, depends on the body’s stored fat in the liver for energy conversion while the HCG diet is meant to use up the unwanted fats as energy sources.
Contrary to popular belief, depriving the system of carbs isn’t as detrimental as most skeptics would like to believe. This will only compel the system to disintegrate fats and create ketones, as in the keto diet. As a result, the cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels are decreased and the starvation pangs are stabilised.
Main Differences Between the Two
Primarily, the Keto diet does not set a limit on the calorie count. You can eat anything at any time of the day. The dieter, indeed, has a wide variety of food options. Only the percentage of fat, carbohydrates, and protein percentage will be varied and this will ultimately help you manage your hunger pangs.
Basically, you will feed high on fats (about 70%), moderate on protein, and low on carbs. This powerful combination enables the body to enter a state of ketosis, which provides the body with an alternative energy source, not carbohydrates.
Meanwhile, the HCG diet is a low-calorie and low-fat diet. Caloric intake, suffice it to say, matters and the usual diet plan requires only 500 to 800 calories per day.
The reason why a person survives below the recommended caloric consumption is because of the introduction of hormones on a daily basis. This HCG hormone will help manage the metabolism of a person. In the end, the person does not only lose weight but also improves physical performance.
More so, unlike the keto diet, the HCG plan encourages only minimal consumption of fats, in the hope that the body will utilise the stored fats in the butt, thigh, or other areas. In this way, the burning process happens within a shorter span of time. Losing weight is highly possible.
While both diet plans claim that they are effective, advocating either of them is also a matter of safety. The FDA does not fully embrace the HCG diet 2.
Both diets have downsides. So it is truly best to consult your physician before undergoing any form of diet.
Sources
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015, Overweight and Obesity – National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15.
2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2020, Avoid Dangerous HCG Diet Products