Does HGH make you lose weight?

By Dr. Dimitar Marinov

medical reviewed by Best HGH Doctors and Clinics dedicated team.

Evidence basedThis article is reviewed by medical professionals for the relevancy and accuracy of the content. Every article is evidence-based and contains references to peer-reviewed studies and academic research.

The human growth hormone (HGH) can induce weight loss and burn belly fat when used as a treatment for growth hormone deficiency (GHD). However, if you have normal growth hormone levels, you can’t purchase safe and legal HGH therapy.

Instead, the best way to approach weight loss is to visit a dietitian or personal trainer who will guide you on how to shed the extra fat.

Do not use HGH for weight loss unless you have low growth hormone levels

On the other hand, abdominal fat gain is a common symptom of GHD, in which case a diet or exercise routine is not going to be effective.

If you suspect that you are experiencing hormone-related weight gain, then make sure to see a qualified medical doctor such as an endocrinologist who can offer you appropriate treatment for your symptoms.

How does GH deficiency cause weight gain?

There is irrefutable scientific evidence that GHD leads to multiple symptoms including an increase in body fat. Low HGH results in weight gain and central obesity, which carry serious health risks.

More specifically, the accumulation of fat occurs around the abdomen and internal organs which increases the risk for other metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

That’s because the adipose tissue around the abdomen is particularly sensitive to the catabolic effects of growth hormone. Without adequate growth hormone levels, fat accumulates much easier in the region.

Therefore, the metabolic changes in GHD are characterized by increased waist circumference and body fat percentage. Other metabolic parameters which may be negatively affected by the condition are blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

On the other hand, obesity is a metabolic condition that can suppress growth hormone secretion and further reduce GH levels in GHD patients.

According to scientists, obesity leads to changes in several regulatory hormones that affect HGH synthesis. For example, its counterregulatory hormones insulin and somatostatin are increased while ghrelin levels are reduced which results in suppressed HGH production.

Therefore, obese individuals without GHD may also experience low GH levels. Studies reveal that the obesity-associated suppression of HGH secretion is fully reversible after weight loss.

How does HGH help you lose weight?

HGH can help you burn fat by stimulating lipolysis. This is a metabolic pathway through which stored fat breaks down into fatty acids. When the molecules are released, the fat cells shrink.
These fatty acids can be burned when your body needs extra energy or they will return to fat storage if unused.

How does HGH help you lose weight?

One of the most notable enzymes (lipases) which facilitate the process of fat breakdown is hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL).

Experiments reveal that growth hormone stimulates HSL which helps your body mobilize fat from the adipose tissues. Normally, HGH has a pulsatile secretion, and fat breakdown begins around 1-2 hours after a peak.

Furthermore, GH prevents the entry of fatty acids back into the adipose cells by blocking another enzyme – lipoprotein lipase (LPL). That’s the enzyme that helps the muscle and fat cells in your body uptake fatty acids.

Studies suggest that HGH inhibits the activity of the LPL in fat tissue, without affecting its expression in skeletal muscle or heart tissues. Thus, fatty acids can be used for energy by muscle cells but can’t be stored back into the fat cells.

Due to the depot-specific effects of growth hormone, it most noticeably reduces the fat distributed around the abdomen and internal organs. The accumulation of fat around these areas is one of the most common symptoms of GHD and it can be reversed by HGH therapy.

Furthermore, patients on HGH therapy report an increase in muscle mass and energy levels, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol, better sleep, mood, and memory.

How long does it take to see results in fat loss?

You may experience a significant reduction in the amount of abdominal subcutaneous fat as soon as 6 weeks after starting HGH therapy. The rate of fat loss and the timeline of the other HGH results will depend on the severity of your condition, individual sensitivity, and dosage.

A higher dosage may speed up the effects but also increase the risk for adverse reactions such as water retention. Thus, it is best to follow your doctor’s advice on how much HGH to take for weight loss and symptom relief.

Growth hormone helps with fat loss by breaking down and mobilizing fatty acids. However, the molecules are not necessarily oxidized, unless your body needs the extra energy. Thus, adding exercise to your daily routine and eating fewer calories will significantly speed up fat loss.

Any kind of sports, including cardio and resistance training, can help you burn more energy

Furthermore, whole unprocessed foods tend to be less energy-dense than their processed alternatives. A diet based on whole foods can be a great starting strategy for creating a sustainable caloric deficit and losing weight faster.

Patients and their weight loss results on HGH

Here is what some of our patients have shared about their experience with HGH therapy.

John W.

John's weight loss results on HGH
“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.

Raymon's weight loss results on HGH
“My chronic fatigue became so bad that I could no longer do my job. My sexual life was also suffering so eventually my wife convinced me to visit a doctor. After several tests, they offered me HGH injections. At first, I thought the therapy 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.

Francis's weight loss results on HGH
“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 HGH therapy. 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 treatment literally gave me my life back.”

Do HGH supplements work for weight loss?

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.

The homeopathic products are so diluted that there is virtually not a single molecule of the active ingredient. Scientists also reveal that there is no reliable evidence to support the effectiveness of any homeopathic product.

Are HGH Supplements Effective For Weight Loss?

Others, such as SeroVital, Nugenix GH-Boost, or Growth Factor-9 (GF-9), contain amino acids and herbal extracts which are labeled as natural growth hormone secretagogues. The most notable ingredients include the amino acids L-lysine and L-arginine.

The combination of L-lysine and L-arginine is one of the most popular amongst HGH supplements that claim to increase natural GH production. However, its effectiveness is yet to be proven.

There was one uncontrolled study using SeroVital on patients without GHD which reports an increase in GH levels and weight loss. However, it was conducted by a SeroVital team member and thus it is likely biased. Another SeroVital trial in healthy individuals also reports a short-term 8-fold GH increase and weight loss.

However, independent studies with a lower risk for bias such as placebo-controlled trials in younger or older men report a lack of effectiveness after supplementing with the two amino acids. There was no increase in GH levels or fat loss.

Other ingredients of HGH supplements may include glutamine, ornithine, and GABA. None of these ingredients appear to be effective in reducing body fat or weight.

Even if different dietary supplements could reliably stimulate natural growth hormone production, they wouldn’t be effective in managing GHD. The pituitary gland in GHD patients is no longer capable of producing adequate amounts of HGH and external stimulation would be ineffective.