Drug helps HIV patients lose belly fat and feel better
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.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
A drug called tesamorelin helps HIV patients who have too much belly fat lose that fat. It also helps lower bad fats in the blood and makes people feel better about how their belly looks. The effects last as long as they keep taking the drug.
Surprising Findings
Fat loss is reversible — stopping the drug causes rapid regain
Most people assume weight loss from drugs is permanent or at least stable, but this study shows fat returns quickly after discontinuation — which is counterintuitive for a drug-based solution.
Practical Takeaways
HIV patients with excess abdominal fat may consider tesamorelin to reduce visceral fat and improve metabolic health — but only under medical supervision.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
A drug called tesamorelin helps HIV patients who have too much belly fat lose that fat. It also helps lower bad fats in the blood and makes people feel better about how their belly looks. The effects last as long as they keep taking the drug.
Surprising Findings
Fat loss is reversible — stopping the drug causes rapid regain
Most people assume weight loss from drugs is permanent or at least stable, but this study shows fat returns quickly after discontinuation — which is counterintuitive for a drug-based solution.
Practical Takeaways
HIV patients with excess abdominal fat may consider tesamorelin to reduce visceral fat and improve metabolic health — but only under medical supervision.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year
2010
Authors
J. Falutz, J. Mamputu, D. Potvin, G. Moyle, G. Soulban, H. Loughrey, C. Marsolais, Ralph Turner, S. Grinspoon
Related Content
Claims (6)
In a 12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, continued tesamorelin treatment led to an 18% reduction in visceral adipose tissue, while discontinuation resulted in rapid fat regain, demonstrating a direct and reversible cause-and-effect relationship.
A drug called tesamorelin helps reduce belly fat deep inside the abdomen for people with HIV who are on medication, making their belly fat decrease by about 15% compared to those not taking the drug. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available
Tesamorelin helps lower triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, by about 12% in HIV patients on medication compared to those not taking it. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available
Tesamorelin improves the ratio of bad cholesterol to good cholesterol by about 7% in HIV patients on medication, which is better for heart health. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available
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