Q: My 18 year old son has been living with CAH, 21-hydroxylase, salt wasting….since birth obviously, and is now morbidly obese.  I have researched the HCG diet and cannot find any information relating to the safety or counter productivity of trying this…would love some feedback

A: I would be cautious of the HCG drops that are included in the diet plan.
The diet plan itself is fine, but HCG is a hormone produced by women during pregnancy to help maintain the placenta. It is similar in structure to LH (luteinizing hormone), which is produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates testosterone production in males. If your son takes HCG, the concern would be that his own LH production would decline, and his fertility may become impaired. Males with CAH are also at risk for benign growths consisting of adrenal tissue in their testes (called “adrenal rests”), and the HCG could potentially make them grow, which could again lead to infertility or impaired testosterone production. Truth be told, the weight loss that some individuals experience with the HCG diet is related more to the diet and exercise plan than to the HCG itself. There are many meal plans available that provide a set number of calories per day that would produce the same results.