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What Is Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat?

Excess visceral abdominal fat lies deep within the abdominal (belly) area. It is different from regular fat, also known as subcutaneous fat, which sits just beneath the skin.

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Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat:

  • Feels firmer than regular fat (which is soft and can be pinched)
  • Surrounds the organs such as your stomach, liver, and intestines, and can also build up inside the organs
  • May be hard to get rid of with diet and exercise alone
Diagram of abdominal fat

What Causes Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat?

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

The build-up of excess visceral abdominal fat 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)
  • A deficiency in growth hormone (GH)
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What Are the Risks?

Excess visceral abdominal fat is harmful to your health and can be linked to serious health issues* such as high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and fatty liver.

It can also affect quality of life, causing anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem.

* EGRIFTA SV® is not approved to reduce the health consequences of excess visceral abdominal fat.
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Could EGRIFTA SV® Be Right for You?

Measure your waist-to-hip ratio to check if you may have excess visceral abdominal fat. You’ll need a measuring tape.

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Does the fat on your abdomen (belly) feel firm?

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Measure your waist and hip circumference:

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What Are Your Treatment Options?

To maintain a healthy lifestyle and help you manage your excess visceral abdominal fat, 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.

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While healthy habits are essential to your overall well-being, they may not be enough to manage your excess visceral abdominal fat.

EGRIFTA SV® is used to reduce excess visceral abdominal (belly) fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.*
* EGRIFTA SV® is not indicated for weight loss management. Its safety and impact on cardiovascular health have not been studied, and it’s not known whether taking EGRIFTA SV® helps improve compliance with antiretroviral medications.

Download the Doctor Discussion Guide to Help Kickstart a Conversation About EGRIFTA SV®, or Find a Specialist Who Is Knowledgeable About HIV-Related Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat and EGRIFTA SV®.