People with HIV on medication who take tesamorelin feel better about their belly appearance, as both they and their doctors report improvements. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available
Scientific Claim
Tesamorelin improves body image metrics including belly appearance distress, patient-rated belly profile, and physician-rated belly profile in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy with excess abdominal fat after 26 weeks of treatment.
Original Statement
“Tesamorelin improved body image [belly appearance distress (P = 0.002)], patient rating of belly profile (P = 0.003), and physician rating of belly profile (P < 0.001).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
probability
Can suggest probability/likelihood
Assessment Explanation
Based on abstract only - full methodology not available to verify; blinding status unknown, so definitive language is inappropriate.
More Accurate Statement
“Tesamorelin is likely to improve body image metrics including belly appearance distress, patient-rated belly profile, and physician-rated belly profile in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy with excess abdominal fat after 26 weeks of treatment.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data.