Visceral fat, which sits deep inside the abdomen wrapped around internal organs, affects metabolism and influences insulin resistance. It can impact the development of type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n
Research published in March by the American Heart Association<\/a> found that visceral fat had a stronger association with the risk of heart failure than body mass index (BMI).<\/p>\n YOUR WAISTLINE COULD REVEAL A HIDDEN HEART RISK YOUR BMI MISSES, MAJOR STUDY FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n The trials tested whether the injection could diminish visceral fat deposits. They were conducted by Dr. W. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Yu-Fang Ling of Caliway Biopharmaceuticals in New Taipei City, Taiwan.<\/p>\n Previous phase 2 trials had already shown that the drug<\/a> could reduce subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat directly beneath the skin.<\/p>\n An experimental injection called CBL-514 has been shown to reduce visceral fat in early human trials. (iStock)<\/p>\n MRI scans from two phase 2 trials exhibited a decrease in visceral fat in participants who received the CBL-514 drug, while the visceral fat increased in those who received a placebo drug.<\/p>\n Participants who were given CBL-514 received injections into their lower abdomen every three weeks for up to 12 weeks, with doses of up to 600 milligrams.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n The number of injections given to participants depended on the thickness of their abdominal fat.<\/p>\n As the fat layer decreased in volume, the number of injections also decreased.<\/p>\n The amount of injections that participants received depended upon the thickness of their abdominal fat. (iStock)<\/p>\n The CBL-514 injection<\/a> selectively sparks apoptosis \u2014 a process that causes cells to self-destruct \u2014 but only in fat cells, leaving nearby cells unharmed.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n Four weeks after the final treatment, the average volume of fat had lowered by 12.01% in the group given CBL-514, while it had increased by 5.68% in the group that received a placebo, SciTechDaily reported.<\/p>\n Participants who were given CBL-514 received injections into their lower abdomen every three weeks for up to 12 weeks \u2014 with doses of up to 600 milligrams. (iStock)<\/p>\n The potential cosmetic effects, such as a flatter stomach due to subcutaneous fat loss, are appealing to patients, Garvey acknowledged.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n What\u2019s even more important, he noted, however, is the decrease in body weight<\/a>, improved blood pressure and cholesterol, and the loss of visceral fat that the injection can cause \u2014 as these factors impact overall health.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/woman-holding-glp1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Female](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/obesity.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iStock-1318461932.jpg\")
<\/p>\n