When belly fat went down in these patients, their trunk muscles also got less fatty—suggesting the same process might be cleaning up both types of fat.
Scientific Claim
In HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who responded to tesamorelin with ≥8% VAT reduction, the increase in trunk muscle density was significantly correlated with the reduction in visceral adipose tissue, suggesting shared mechanisms between fat loss and muscle quality improvement.
Original Statement
“Among participants in the tesamorelin arm, change in VAT correlated with change in total and lean anterolateral/abdominal and total rectus density (Table 3).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study reports correlation coefficients from a single treatment arm, which cannot establish causation. The claim correctly uses 'correlated' to reflect the observational nature of this analysis.
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 when HIV patients with belly fat took a drug called tesamorelin and lost belly fat, their trunk muscles also got stronger and denser — suggesting the same treatment improved both fat loss and muscle quality at the same time.