Look Good. Feel Strong. Know What Changed.
A smaller waist is one outcome. Better health is another. We connect aesthetics and longevity by measuring both, not assuming one proves the other. Here is how body composition is really measured, what the newest visceral-fat headlines do and do not show, and why we run our own research.
Losing fat is not the same as getting healthier, so Dr. Dusan Sajic of Sajic Longevity measures both. A waist tape tracks size, a whole-body DEXA scan estimates fat, lean tissue and abdominal visceral fat, and MRI or CT gives more direct detail when it is clinically warranted. Pair those with blood pressure, lipids, glucose markers and strength, and repeat with the same method, and you can see what actually changed.
- Subcutaneous fat sits under the skin; visceral fat sits around the abdominal organs and is the type linked to metabolic risk.
- In a 2004 NEJM study, liposuction removed about 9 to 10.5 kg of fat without improving insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, glucose or lipids at 10 to 12 weeks.
- An EASD 2026 conference report on the injectable CBL-514 showed less MRI-measured visceral fat in a small subgroup. It is a research signal, not a proven treatment.
- Regular aerobic exercise can reduce visceral fat even when the scale barely moves.
- Small changes on a repeat scan can be measurement noise. Same machine, same conditions, same method.
Why does Sajic Longevity do its own research?
Confidence is not the same as evidence. Our clinic conducts studies regularly and is preparing several future projects across skin health, aesthetics and longevity. The question is not simply "does this look better?" It is "what changed, how was it measured, and did it matter?"
A good protocol starts with a question. We establish a baseline, choose meaningful outcomes, check safety and measure again. Research also has to be willing to show when something does not work. Specific projects will be described separately when they are ready, with their approvals, eligibility, risks and a study-specific consent process. No project, start date or study place is promised on this page.
- Measure. Choose a relevant baseline, not just a flattering photo or a scale number.
- Validate. Use appropriate methods, a comparison, repeatability and honest limits.
- Learn. Track meaningful change and safety, then revise the plan when the evidence demands it.
What is the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat?
Subcutaneous fat sits under your skin: the fat you can often pinch. Visceral fat sits deeper, around the abdominal organs. Excess visceral fat is associated with metabolic risk, but neither appearance nor one scan tells you everything about your health.
That is the bridge between aesthetics and longevity: pair your aesthetic goals with body composition, strength and the right clinical markers, so "look better", "feel better" and "healthier" are each assessed rather than assumed.
Book a consultation. Virtual. $150 nurse consult (includes SkinLife Analytics) or $499 45-min physician consult with Dr. Sajic (includes TruAge biological age testing). Deposit applied in full to diagnostic testing. Book now →
How is body composition measured: waist tape, DEXA, MRI or CT?
| Method | What it does well | What it cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Waist tape | Inexpensive and practical. Repeated measurements track central size change. | Cannot separate visceral fat from fat under the skin or diagnose metabolic health. Use a consistent site and technique. |
| DEXA (DXA) | Low-dose X-ray. A whole-body composition scan estimates fat mass, lean soft tissue and bone mineral content. Compatible software estimates abdominal visceral fat. | An estimate in a defined region, not a direct image of all organ fat. A routine hip and spine bone-density scan is a different exam. Lean soft tissue is not a direct measure of muscle quality. |
| MRI / CT | Quantifies visceral fat in defined regions or volumes with more direct anatomical detail. MRI uses no ionizing radiation. | CT involves radiation. Different regions, scanners and methods give different numbers. Not automatically necessary just because you are curious; a specialist decides when it adds value. |
What is a DEXA scan? Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry uses low-dose X-rays to estimate how your body is divided into fat, lean soft tissue and bone. Ask about the device, the software, its precision and the right interval before repeating it. Tell the imaging team if you may be pregnant. DEXA availability, scan type and referral arrangements are confirmed by our team, not guaranteed by this page.
For follow-up, standardize the method, scanner and software, positioning and conditions. Small changes may be measurement noise. Blood pressure, lipids, glucose measures and functional progress still matter; imaging does not replace assessment. All of this sits inside our precision diagnostics program.
Science in the newsDoes removing fat improve metabolic health?
Not automatically. In a 2004 New England Journal of Medicine study of 15 women with obesity, liposuction removed substantial subcutaneous fat, about 9 to 10.5 kg across the two groups. At 10 to 12 weeks, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and measured glucose and lipid risk factors did not significantly improve. It is one small study, not proof that every liposuction outcome is identical, but it makes the point clearly: less fat is not automatically better metabolic health.
Can an injection reduce visceral fat? What the CBL-514 headline shows
At EASD 2026 in Milan, an exploratory analysis of two Phase 2 studies of CBL-514 reported a decrease in MRI-measured visceral fat around the L2 to L3 level after injections into lower-abdominal fat under the skin. It is an interesting research signal, not a proven replacement for liposuction or established metabolic care.
What was actually measured? A regional MRI fat-volume change. The release describes 41 participants at baseline (23 treated, 18 placebo) and 40 with later follow-up data (23 treated, 17 placebo). These were MRI-available subgroups, not a 40-person cardiovascular outcomes trial.
| Follow-up after the final treatment | CBL-514 group | Placebo group |
|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks | −12.01% | +5.68% |
| 8 to 12 weeks | −10.45% | +11.76% |
Average change in regional MRI visceral-fat volume from each group's own baseline, from the EASD conference release. Not your expected result. Investigational, company-connected conference evidence: no full peer-reviewed paper for this analysis was available in the sources reviewed.
What the headline does not prove. Small selected subgroups, short follow-up and rising fat volume in the placebo group can all affect interpretation, and the authors include company employees and advisers. Durability, longer-term safety, liver fat and metabolic effects still need assessment. The tirzepatide-combination and reduced weight-regain findings described alongside it were in rats. A smaller MRI number does not establish fewer heart attacks, diabetes prevention or a longer life.
SUPREME-01 (NCT07140939) is a registered Phase 3 study of abdominal subcutaneous-fat reduction, with clinician and patient fat-rating scales as its primary outcome. It is not designed to show fewer heart attacks, and permission to run research is not marketing approval. This page does not offer CBL-514, does not imply our clinic is a participating site, and does not collect applications for that trial. Read the independent trial registry.
What can I do about visceral fat today?
You do not have to wait for an experimental drug. Three starting points you can act on now:
- Move. Regular aerobic activity can reduce visceral fat even when the scale changes only modestly. Build toward 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity a week as appropriate.
- Protect strength. Include resistance training at least twice a week, with adequate energy and protein. 1.2 g/kg/day is a starting discussion, not a universal prescription.
- Measure with purpose. Use consistent waist tracking, appropriate body-composition assessment and clinical markers. Repeat a test only when the result can guide a decision.
Targets depend on clinical context, ability and the right weight basis, and a clinician or dietitian can adapt them. If you are losing weight on a GLP-1 medicine, muscle is the thing to protect: see The Scale Is Moving. What Are You Protecting? and our physician-supervised GLP-1 program.
Can I hear about future research at the clinic?
Yes. Leave your email and the area that is relevant to you, and we will keep you informed about our research and future opportunities as information becomes available. This is general interest only: not an application, an eligibility check, an appointment or consent to take part. We do not ask for symptoms, medicines, BMI, photos or scan results. If a specific study is announced, its own information and consent process will explain who can take part, the risks and the commitments, and you decide then. Declining never affects your care.
Frequently asked questions
Does a DEXA scan directly measure all visceral fat?
No. Compatible whole-body DXA software estimates visceral fat in a defined abdominal region. MRI or CT can provide more direct anatomical measurements. A routine hip and spine bone-density scan is a different examination; body-composition availability and suitability must be confirmed.
Does liposuction improve insulin resistance or heart risk?
In the 2004 NEJM study of 15 women with obesity, removing about 9 to 10.5 kg of subcutaneous fat did not significantly improve insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, glucose or lipids at 10 to 12 weeks. It is a small study, but it shows that removing fat under the skin is not the same as improving metabolic health.
Can I receive CBL-514 through Sajic Longevity?
No. CBL-514 is discussed here as investigational science news, not offered as a clinic treatment. This page does not imply our clinic is a participating CBL-514 site or accept applications for that trial.
Am I signing up for a clinical trial if I ask for research updates?
No. It is a voluntary general research-update list. It does not assess eligibility, reserve a place, enroll you or provide informed consent. Specific studies have their own information and consent process.
Can I get a body-composition assessment without being interested in research?
Yes. Ordinary clinical care is separate. Your care is not affected if you decline research updates or later decide not to take part in a study.
How do I stop receiving research updates?
Email consult@sajicskin.com and ask to stop research updates. You can withdraw permission at any time, no reason required, and your care is unaffected.
Sources
- Klein S, et al. Absence of an effect of liposuction on insulin action and risk factors for coronary heart disease. NEJM. 2004;350:2549–2557.
- EASD. CBL-514 MRI subgroup findings and conflict-of-interest disclosure. Conference news release, October 1, 2026; not a full peer-reviewed paper.
- Science Media Centre. Independent expert reaction to the CBL-514 conference abstract. October 1, 2026.
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07140939 / SUPREME-01: Phase 3 abdominal subcutaneous-fat trial. Registry checked October 10, 2026.
- Murata H, et al. Comparison between DXA and MRI for the visceral fat assessment in athletes. 2022.
- ACR / RSNA RadiologyInfo. DXA basics, low-dose radiation, pregnancy precautions and same-machine follow-up.
- Vissers D, et al. Effect of exercise on visceral adipose tissue in overweight adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. 2013;8:e56415.
- World Health Organization. Physical activity: aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidance.
- Phillips S, McMaster University. Protein beyond the hype: 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg/day in context.
Where this fits at Sajic Longevity. Whether the goal is a smaller waist, a stronger body or a longer healthspan, we set a baseline, measure with the right tool and repeat it the same way, so you know what actually changed. Book a consultation or call 1-888-430-4665.
Measure what actually changed.
A baseline, the right measurement and the same method on repeat, so a smaller waist and better health are both checked, not assumed.
Precision diagnostics
Body composition, advanced blood panels and biological age under one physician-directed program.
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Physician-supervised metabolic treatment, planned around muscle, nutrition and measured follow-up.
Shop now →Not sure which is right for you? Call 1-888-430-4665 or email consult@sajicskin.com and our team will point you to the right starting point.
This article is for education and general information only. It is not medical advice and does not establish a physician-patient relationship. Emerging findings do not establish approved treatment, availability, eligibility or expected benefit. Research communications remain subject to applicable institutional and ethics requirements. Individual results vary. Testing and treatment decisions are made only after an individual assessment.