The injection makes the body produce more of a natural growth-related hormone called IGF-1, which helps explain how it reduces belly fat.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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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

The study found that the drug tesamorelin made a key growth-related protein (IGF-I) go up in HIV patients with belly fat, just like scientists expected it to.

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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 drug makes the body produce more IGF-1 — a hormone linked to growth and metabolism — which is exactly what you’d expect from a drug that stimulates growth hormone.

98%

Tesamorelin boosts a key growth hormone-related protein in HIV patients without affecting their blood sugar levels.

86%

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.

85%

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

84%

Rising IGF-1 levels helped explain some of the muscle growth from the drug, but not all of it—so other factors are also at work.

83%