Changes in a growth hormone-related factor didn't match changes in muscle density or size in people with HIV and belly fat taking tesamorelin.

In people with HIV and belly fat who responded to tesamorelin, muscle density changes were linked to belly fat loss but not to changes in a growth-related hormone.

For people with HIV taking tesamorelin, changes in their growth hormone levels didn't match changes in their trunk muscle thickness or size.

Tesamorelin increased rectus and psoas muscle size by 0.44 and 0.46 cm² in people with HIV and belly fat, but this effect was reduced when considering changes in a growth hormone-related factor.

People with HIV who have belly fat and are on medication to control the virus who took tesamorelin had higher levels of a growth-related hormone called IGF-1. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available

The muscle growth from this drug wasn’t because belly fat went down—it was more likely due to a rise in a growth-related hormone called IGF-1.