Semaglutide for HIV-Associated Lipohypertrophy

People with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy have an overabundance of abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), which confers excess risk for cardiometabolic complications. Now, in a phase 2b randomized clinical trial involving 108 individuals with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy, investigators evaluated whether semaglutide — a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist — reduces abdominal VAT. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive semaglutide (maximum dose, 1 mg weekly) or placebo. Body composition was assessed with DXA and CT scans.

After 32 weeks of treatment, the semaglutide group experienced reductions in abdominal adipose tissue and total body fat. The decrease in visceral abdominal tissue (−30.6%) was greater than that in subc…