Does HGH Make You Lose Weight?

Human growth hormone (hGH) has gained attention for its potential to induce weight loss and reduce belly fat, particularly in conditions such as growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

Indeed, abdominal fat gain is a common symptom of GHD, and in such cases, a diet or exercise routine is not going to be sufficiently effective for healthy weight loss.

If you suspect your weight gain might be related to hormonal issues, consulting a qualified medical professional, such as one of our experienced endocrinologists, is essential.

They can provide appropriate medical treatment for hormone-related weight gain, ensuring safe and effective management of your symptoms.

Can Growth Hormone Deficiency Cause Weight Gain?

Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that GHD leads to various complaints, including the symptom of increased body fat. Low levels of hGH contribute to weight gain and central obesity, which pose significant health risks.

Specifically, fat tends to accumulate around the abdomen and internal organs, heightening the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

This is because adipose tissue in the abdominal area is especially sensitive to the catabolic effects of growth hormone. Without sufficient growth hormone levels, fat accumulates more readily in this region.

Consequently, GHD is characterized by increased waist circumference and body fat percentage. Additionally, GHD can negatively impact other metabolic parameters, leading to complications such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

On the other hand, obesity itself can suppress growth hormone secretion, further reducing GH levels in individuals with GHD.

Researchers have found that obesity alters several regulatory hormones that influence hGH synthesis. For example, increased levels of counterregulatory hormones like insulin and somatostatin, along with decreased ghrelin levels, suppress hGH production.

As a result, even obese individuals without GHD may experience low GH levels. However, studies show that this suppression of hGH secretion due to obesity is fully reversible with substantial weight loss.

This underscores the complex interactions between growth hormone levels and obesity, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for optimal hormonal balance and overall health.

Can hGH help you lose weight?

If you have low levels of growth hormone and associated symptoms such as abdominal obesity, you might consider therapy with hGH for weight loss, which involves administering exogenous hGH identical to the hormone your body produces.

Both injectable and natural hGH work in the same way by promoting fat-burning through a process called lipolysis.

Lipolysis is a metabolic pathway where stored fat breaks down into fatty acids. When these fatty acids are released, your fat cells shrink, and your body can burn them for energy. However, if they are not used, they can return to fat storage.

A key player in this fat breakdown process is an enzyme called hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). Research shows that hGH stimulates HSL, helping to mobilize fat from your adipose tissues. Naturally, hGH is released in pulses, with fat breakdown starting about 1-2 hours after a peak.

Moreover, hGH therapy helps keep fatty acids from re-entering fat cells by inhibiting another enzyme, lipoprotein lipase (LPL). LPL assists muscle and fat cells in absorbing fatty acids.

Studies suggest that hGH suppresses lipoprotein lipase activity in fat tissue but doesn’t affect it in skeletal muscle or heart tissues. This means your muscle cells can use fatty acids for energy, while your fat cells are prevented from storing them again.

Does hGH reduce belly fat?

Human growth hormone therapy has a pronounced effect on reducing belly fat, primarily due to its ability to target specific fat depots. Visceral fat, which is stored around the abdomen and internal organs, studies suggest it is particularly responsive to hGH therapy, possibly because of higher levels of growth hormone receptors.

This type of fat is not only more metabolically active but also more dangerous, as it is associated with higher risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Patients undergoing hGH therapy often experience a significant reduction in belly fat, alongside other positive changes. Increased lean muscle mass and energy levels are frequently reported, as hGH promotes bodily functions such as protein synthesis, muscle growth and increased lean body mass.

This shift in body composition not only enhances physical appearance but also boosts metabolism, aiding further fat loss.

Moreover, hGH therapy can lead to improvements in cardiovascular health. Many patients see reduced blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels, which are critical for long-term physical health.

How much growth hormone to take for fat loss?

Your doctor can determine how much hGH to take to help you lose weight and manage the symptoms of GHD. Several factors influence the optimal dose of growth hormone injections for weight loss, including your age, gender, and estrogen status in women.

Official guidelines recommend initiating hGH therapy with a standard daily dose of 0.2 mg (0.6 IU/day). Your physician may then increase the dose by 0.1-0.2 mg every 4-8 weeks, based on your individual response to the therapy. This gradual increase helps to minimize potential side effects.

HGH treatment trials show that most patients effectively manage symptoms such as abdominal obesity with doses ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 mg/day.

For example, one study in GHD showed that daily doses equal to approximately 0.01 mg per kilogram of body weight can lead to nearly 4% body fat loss in women and almost 6% body fat loss in men within the first six months.

Additionally, a trial involving middle-aged obese adult men found that daily doses of 0.0095 mg per kilogram of body weight over nine months resulted in a 9% reduction in body fat and an 18% reduction in visceral fat. These findings highlight the effectiveness of tailored hGH therapy in reducing body fat and managing GHD symptoms.

How long does it take to lose body fat and see results when taking hGH for weight loss?

You may experience a significant reduction in abdominal subcutaneous fat within just six weeks according to studies. The rate of fat loss and the timeline of the other hGH results depend on the severity of your condition, individual sensitivity, and dosage.

While a higher dosage may accelerate these effects, it also increases the risk of adverse reactions such as water retention. Therefore, it is crucial to follow your doctor’s advice on the appropriate hGH dosage for weight loss and symptom relief.

Growth hormone treatment promotes fat loss by breaking down and mobilizing fatty acids. However, these molecules are not necessarily oxidized unless your body needs the extra energy.

To maximize fat loss, incorporating exercise into your daily routine and consuming fewer calories is essential. Any type of physical activity, including cardio and resistance training, can help you burn more energy.

Additionally, focusing on whole, unprocessed foods can aid in weight loss. These foods tend to be less energy-dense than their processed counterparts. A diet based on whole foods is an effective strategy for creating a sustainable caloric deficit, helping you lose weight more efficiently.

HGH for Weight Loss – Before and After

Here is what some of our GHD patients have shared about their experience with growth

John W.

“I started hGH therapy 3 months ago and my life has already changed so much. Every day it’s getting better and better and I can’t wait to see what is to come. So far, I stopped losing muscle and started losing my belly fat instead! I have much more energy and motivation to perform daily tasks and work. My social life is much better as well and I hope to never have to stop. The only downside I noticed was mildly achy joints in my hands and feet for about a month.”

Raymon B.

“My chronic fatigue became so bad that I could no longer do my job. My sexual health was also suffering so eventually my wife convinced me to visit a doctor. After several tests, they offered me growth hormone injections for weight loss. At first, I thought the growth hormone treatment was not working, but after the first month, I started noticing some of the benefits. 3 months later I was surging with energy and noticed that my beer belly had shrunk. Now, 7 months later I got rid of it completely and my life feels better than ever. My doctor even reduced my blood pressure meds and I no longer have to take my statins.”

Francis M.

“Several years after the radiation treatment for my adenoma, I started having sleep problems and my weight skyrocketed. My endocrinologist diagnosed me with growth hormone deficiency and suggested hormone shots for weight loss and managing my symptoms. After the second month of treatment, I slept like a baby and felt full of energy. For 9 months I lost 76 pounds and got my social life back, which was totally dead before. The medical treatment literally gave me my life back.”

Comparing HGH Injections to Supplements

Over-the-counter supplements such as hGH drops, pills, and gels do not actually contain growth hormone. Instead, they are either homeopathic products or dietary supplements.

Homeopathic products are so diluted that they virtually contain no molecules of the active ingredient. Moreover, scientific evidence does not support the effectiveness of any homeopathic product.

Supplements like SeroVital, Nugenix GH-Boost, and Growth Factor-9 (GF-9) contain amino acids and herbal extracts labeled as natural growth hormone secretagogues.

Notable ingredients include the amino acids L-lysine and L-arginine. This combination is popular among hGH supplements claiming to boost natural hGH production. However, its effectiveness remains unproven, due to questionable reliability of the available studies.

For example, one uncontrolled study using SeroVital on patients without GHD reported an increase in HGH levels and weight loss. Another SeroVital trial in healthy individuals reported a short-term 8-fold increase in HGH levels and weight loss. However, both studies were conducted by SeroVital team members, introducing significant potential bias.

Nevertheless, independent, reliable placebo-controlled trials in younger and older men have found no increase in hGH levels or fat loss after supplementing with these two amino acids.

Other ingredients found in hGH supplements include glutamine, ornithine, and GABA. Available studies indicate that these ingredients are not effective in reducing body fat or weight.

Even if dietary supplements could reliably stimulate natural HGH production, they would not be effective in managing GHD. In growth hormone deficiency patients, the pituitary gland can no longer produce adequate amounts of HGH, making external stimulation ineffective.