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.
Scientific Claim
Tesamorelin (2 mg subcutaneous daily) causes a reduction in trunk fat and waist circumference in HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy with central fat accumulation over 6 months, without altering limb or abdominal subcutaneous fat.
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.”
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 objective anthropometric and imaging measures supports definitive causal language. The specificity of effect (visceral vs. subcutaneous) is clearly reported and statistically validated.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
This study found that a daily shot of tesamorelin helped HIV patients lose belly fat and shrink their waistline over six months, without losing fat from their arms, legs, or just under the skin — exactly what the claim says.