People with HIV and belly fat who responded to tesamorelin by losing belly fat saw their trunk muscles grow larger in specific areas: rectus abdominis by 0.85 cm², psoas by 0.64 cm², and others by up to 1.08 cm² more than those on placebo after 26 weeks.
Scientific Claim
In HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who responded to tesamorelin with ≥8% visceral fat reduction, 26 weeks of treatment increased lean muscle area in the rectus abdominis by 0.85 cm², psoas by 0.64 cm², anterolateral abdominal by 1.08 cm², and paraspinal by 0.96 cm² compared to placebo.
Original Statement
“significant increases were also seen in the lean muscle area of all four truncal muscle groups (0.64-1.08 centimeters2; p<0.005)”
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 randomized controlled trial design supports causal language for the specific population. The verb 'increased' accurately reflects the treatment effect observed in the data.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV
The study found that a drug called tesamorelin helped HIV-positive people with belly fat gain more muscle in their abdomen and back after 26 weeks, and the amounts of muscle gain match closely with what the claim says.