close
Patient InformationDownloadPrescribing InformationDownloadFor Healthcare Providers

Recognizing Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat (EVAF)

Stock photography. Posed by model.

What is EVAF and how does it differ from regular fat?

Abdominal or belly fat is made up of two types of fat:
  • Subcutaneous abdominal fat, which you can easily pinch around your belly and sits just beneath your skin
  • Visceral abdominal fat, which feels firmer than regular fat and is stored deeper inside your belly and around organs such as your stomach, liver, and intestines. It is also associated with fat build-up inside the organs
EVAF tends to be more stubborn than regular fat and may not respond to diet and exercise alone. It's important to reduce this type of fat as it can have negative health consequences.
Think you may have EVAF? Take this quick survey to find out.
Take The survey

What factors influence the build-up of EVAF?

If you are a person with HIV, you may experience a build-up or loss of body fat in certain areas of your body called lipodystrophy.

The build-up of EVAF you may have noticed is one type of lipodystrophy. Many factors may be influencing this build-up, such as:

Age

How long you've had HIV

Certain types of antiretroviral therapy (ART)

Body mass index (BMI)

Assigned female at birth

A reduction in growth hormone (GH) levels

The connection between EVAF and growth hormone

Growth hormone is a natural substance made by your body. It helps regulate your metabolism—how your body uses and stores energy—by playing a key role in how fat is broken down and stored.
While weight gain in the general population is usually linked to obesity, fat build-up in people with HIV who are on ART can be quite different.
Many people with HIV have lower levels of growth hormone in their bodies than normal. When growth hormone levels are low, it can be harder for your body to break down fat—especially visceral fat, the kind that builds up deep in the stomach area.
Stock photography. Posed by model.

Why should I treat EVAF?

EVAF is more than just a concern about appearance—it is associated with serious health issues* such as high cholesterol, heart disease, insulin resistance and diabetes, fatty liver, and digestive problems. It can also affect quality of life, causing anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem.
* EGRIFTA WR™ is not approved to reduce the health consequences of EVAF.
Understanding the symptoms, causes, and risk factors of EVAF is the first step toward taking control of your health. Don’t wait—if you suspect you may have EVAF, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you can.

What are my treatment options?

To maintain a healthy lifestyle and help you manage your EVAF, it is important to:
  • Regularly exercise
  • Eat a well-balanced diet
You can also make sure you’re getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol intake, and lowering stress levels with yoga or meditation.
Stock photography. Posed by model.
While healthy habits are essential to your overall well-being, they may not be enough to manage your EVAF. 
EGRIFTA WR™ is used to reduce the excess stomach-area (abdominal) fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.*
* EGRIFTA WR™ is not for weight loss management. The long-term safety of EGRIFTA WR™ on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) is not known. It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA WR™ helps improve how well you take your antiretroviral medications. It is not known if EGRIFTA WR™ is safe and effective in children; do not use EGRIFTA WR™ in children.

Could EGRIFTA WR™ be right for you?

Measure your waist circumference and calculate your waist-to-hip ratio to check if you may have EVAF. You’ll need a measuring tape.

Your assigned sex at birth is:
Please select an option.
Does the fat on your abdomen (belly) feel firm?
Please select an option.
Measure your waist and hip circumference:Need help measuring?
in
This field is required.
in
This field is required.
Calculate
Be sure to discuss your results with your doctor
Download the Doctor Discussion Guide to help kickstart a conversation about EGRIFTA WR™ with your healthcare provider.
Coming Soon

What is EGRIFTA WR™ (tesamorelin) for injection?

  • EGRIFTA WR™ is a prescription medicine used to reduce the excess stomach-area (abdominal) fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.
  • EGRIFTA WR™ is a growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF) analog.
  • EGRIFTA WR™ is not for weight loss management.
  • The long-term safety of EGRIFTA WR™ on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) is not known.
  • It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA WR™ helps improve how well you take your antiretroviral medications.
  • It is not known if EGRIFTA WR™ is safe and effective in children; do not use EGRIFTA WR™ in children.

You should not take EGRIFTA WR™ if you:

  • Have a pituitary gland tumor, surgery, or other problems related to your pituitary gland, or have had radiation treatment to your head or head injury.
  • Have active cancer.
  • Are allergic to tesamorelin or any of the ingredients in EGRIFTA WR™.
  • Are pregnant or become pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop using EGRIFTA WR™ and talk with your healthcare provider.
  • Are less than 18 years of age.

Before using EGRIFTA WR™ tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • Have or have had cancer.
  • Have problems with blood sugar or diabetes.
  • Have scheduled heart or stomach surgery.
  • Have breathing problems.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
  • Are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

EGRIFTA WR™ may cause serious side effects including:

  • Increased risk of new cancer in adults with HIV or your cancer coming back (reactivation). Stop using EGRIFTA WR™ and inform your healthcare provider if any cancer symptoms come back.
  • Increased levels of your insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your IGF-1 levels while you are taking EGRIFTA WR™.
  • Serious allergic reaction such as rash or hives anywhere over the body or on the skin, swelling of the face or throat, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, feeling of faintness or fainting, itching and reddening or flushing of the skin. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using EGRIFTA WR™ and get emergency medical help right away.
  • Swelling or fluid retention. Call your healthcare provider if you have swelling, an increase in joint pain, or pain or numbness in your hands or wrists.
  • Increase in blood sugar (glucose) or diabetes.
  • Injection site reactions. Injection site reactions are a common side effect of EGRIFTA WR™ but may sometimes be serious.
  • Increased risk of death in people who have critical illness because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems has been reported after treatment with therapeutic doses of growth hormone.

The most common side effects of EGRIFTA WR™ include:

  • Pain in legs and arms
  • Muscle pain

These are not all the possible side effects of EGRIFTA WR™. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or to TPS logo toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).

This information is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. For additional information about EGRIFTA WR™, see the Patient Information and Patient Instructions for Use, and talk to your doctor. For more information about EGRIFTA WR™ contact TPS logo toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).