People who took the drug ended up with a smaller waist compared to their hips — a sign their body fat shifted from the belly to less dangerous areas.

Scientific Claim

Tesamorelin (2 mg subcutaneous daily) causes a reduction in waist-hip ratio in HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy with central fat accumulation over 6 months, indicating a favorable redistribution of body fat away from the abdomen.

Original Statement

“Trunk fat (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.02), and waist-hip-ratio (P = 0.001) improved, with no change in limb or abdominal SC fat.”

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 a statistically significant change in a validated anthropometric marker supports definitive causal language. The claim accurately reflects the reported 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 belly fat without losing fat from their arms or legs, making their waist smaller compared to their hips — exactly what the claim says.

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

The injection makes the waist smaller relative to the hips, giving a less 'apple-shaped' body and more 'pear-shaped' proportions.

97%

The drug shrinks the fat around the torso and makes the waist smaller, but doesn’t change the fat on the arms, legs, or just under the skin — meaning it targets only the dangerous internal fat.

94%

The drug doesn’t make you lose fat from your skin or your arms and legs — it only targets the fat deep inside your belly, which is the kind that’s most dangerous.

91%

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.

90%

If HIV patients keep taking the injection for a full year, they lose even more belly fat inside their abdomen—about 18% total.

89%