A daily injection called tesamorelin helps HIV patients with a big belly lose nearly 11% of their dangerous internal belly fat in six months, while those getting a fake shot don’t lose any.

Scientific Claim

Tesamorelin (2 mg subcutaneous daily) causes a 10.9% reduction in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) over 6 months in HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy with central fat accumulation, compared to no significant change with placebo, indicating a direct causal effect on abdominal fat distribution.

Original Statement

“VAT decreased by −10.9% (−21 cm²) in the tesamorelin group vs. −0.6% (−1 cm²) in the placebo group in the 6-month efficacy phase, P < 0.0001.”

From study:Effects of Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone–Releasing Factor, in HIV-Infected Patients With Abdominal Fat Accumulation: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial With a Safety Extension

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The RCT design with randomization, blinding, and placebo control allows definitive causal language. The reported effect size and P-value are directly supported by the data.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effects of Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone–Releasing Factor, in HIV-Infected Patients With Abdominal Fat Accumulation: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial With a Safety Extension

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2010 Mar

This study found that a daily shot of tesamorelin helped HIV patients lose nearly 11% of their dangerous belly fat in six months, while those on a fake shot didn’t lose any — proving the drug directly reduces belly fat.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effects of Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone–Releasing Factor, in HIV-Infected Patients With Abdominal Fat Accumulation: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial With a Safety Extension

Score: 81

DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181cbdaff

Similar Assertions

A daily injection called tesamorelin helps HIV patients on medication lose belly fat inside their abdomen, while a fake shot doesn’t.

96%

A drug called tesamorelin helps HIV patients with belly fat buildup lose about 11% of their dangerous internal belly fat in six months, while those on a dummy pill lose almost none.

95%

A drug called tesamorelin helps reduce belly fat deep inside the abdomen for people with HIV who are on medication, making their belly fat decrease by about 15% compared to those not taking the drug. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available

94%

A hormone treatment called tesamorelin decreases belly fat by 42 square centimeters more than a placebo in people with HIV who have excess abdominal fat after six months of treatment.

94%

If HIV patients keep taking tesamorelin for a full year, their dangerous belly fat drops by about 18% compared to when they started — but we don’t know how much better that is than just stopping the drug, because the placebo group didn’t stay on it for a year.

93%