The 2007 book titled The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About, a weight loss book authored by controversial author Kevin Trudeau, was released in April 2007 (Alliance Publishing, $24.95 list but $13.72 from Amazon). The controversial book describes a plan to change activity in the hypothalamus gland, linked to the pituitary gland, with the intention to control hunger and regulate fat cells, by using herbal supplements and repeated use of the hCG hormone.

The book follows his two other bestselling but criticized books, Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About, and More Natural Cures Revealed; Previously Censored Brand Name Products That Cure Disease. Weight Loss Cure has appeared on the bestseller's lists of the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and The New York Times.

The book's promoters say: "The main problems that overweight people deal with are massive, intense, constant physical hunger; food cravings and uncontrollable urges to eat when not hungry; low metabolism; and an abnormally high amount of fat stored in stubborn secure problem areas such as the hips, thighs, buttocks, and waist. This "weight loss cure protocol" has been proven to be virtually 100% successful in correcting these conditions, thus curing the individual of obesity for life! Read the fascinating true story of how this discovery was made and, more importantly, how this miracle weight loss breakthrough has been hidden from the public so that drug companies can make billions of dollars selling their expensive drug treatments and surgical procedures for obesity."

One should note that Mr. Trudeau has no certified medical training. Complaints about Kevin Trudeau's weight loss system and business practices can be found at the Consumer Affairs website (http://consumeraffairs.com/health/trudeau.html). In summary, the complaints refer to the problem of unsubscribing from the website and its monthly fees, as well as the inability to follow the protocol detailed by Trudeau in the United States, due to product availability and legal reasons.

This book's diet has been compared to a diet plan by British endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons in the 1950s. The book prescribes a multi-month, 3-phase plan that involves changing to all organic foods, with repeated colonic cleansing and liver cleansing, followed by a 2nd phase period of daily use of HCG ( or hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin), typically injections, under the direction of a healthcare provider or doctor. The use of hCG has been found  for men to increase testosterone linked to muscle growth, for burning fat; however, in some clinical studies with women testosterone levels did not rise, leaving the possibility that hCG would be in a diet plan for men only, and taking hCG could be inappropriate for women.

For men, hCG can have some potential side-effects, including gynecomastia (growing female breasts), water retention, increase in sex drive, mood alterations, headaches and high blood pressure. Due to such side effects, others warn to limit hCG to 3-week periods (with 4-week breaks) and recommend professional guidance from a physician. Also, herbs, such as tongkat ali (longjack), might be used rather than risk hCG.

In Phase 1 you are advised to do such common sense things such as drink water, walk, eat breakfast, eat dinner before 6 p.m., eat salads, stay away from artificial sweeteners, limit carbonated drinks, no fast food, etc. Also in Phase 1, you are encouraged to get colonics every other day, use a colon cleanse product (of which he provides the websites for purchasing), take lots of herbal supplements (also provided on his websites for purchase), sweat 20 minutes a day in an infrared sauna, get sun, get as many massages as possible, do as many yoga sessions as possible (in addition to walking 1 hour a day, doing mini-trampoline exercising 5-10 minutes 1 or 2 times a day), listen to de-stressing cds (also available for purchase), lift weights, etc.

During Phase 3, use of hCG stops, but food must continue to be 100% organic, or the plan will fail. Other recommended activities include walking an hour or more a day, eating organic grapefruit, and doing breathing exercises. Critics noted that scheduled doctor visits, buying organic foods and hCG can be very expensive for the average consumer, but also note that wealthy people have paid to follow the plan, and critics do not deny that the plan might work for people who can afford it. Those critics did not address if taking hCG would be inappropriate for women.

Since 1975, the FDA has required the following labeling on HCG: HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from calorie restriction, that it causes a more attractive or "normal" distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie restricted diets.