How to Maintain a Healthy Weight When HIV Positive

Unintended weight loss is frequently a problem for HIV-positive individuals. Often accompanied by malnutrition, weakness and fever, it can destroy quality of life and greatly reduce a person's ability to fight off opportunistic infections. Consequently, it is critically important for anyone who is HIV positive to do everything possible to maintain a healthy weight. Keys to success include eating properly, using vitamins and supplements and monitoring weight and nutrition.

Things You'll Need

• Doctor
• Nutritionist
• Journal
• Comprehensive nutrition plan

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Instructions

Monitor and Maintain the Components of Healthy Weight

• 1

  Coordinate with your doctor and nutritionist to set up a regular monitoring program for the components of healthy weight. You can learn how to do some of this monitoring on your own and get other testing done when you come to your clinic.

• 2

  Learn to use your weight along with tape measurements of your girth to calculate your lean body mass and check it each week when you weigh in.

• 3

  Weigh in at least three times a week.

• 4

  Keep a journal of your weight, lean body mass, nutrition, exercise and overall health.

• 5

  Get regular lab tests to monitor vitamin and hormone deficiencies.

Establish and Follow a Comprehensive Nutrition and Exercise Program

• 6

  Establish a comprehensive nutrition program based on three square meals a day, regular healthy snacks and vitamins and supplements suggested by your doctor and nutritionist.

• 7

  Exercise regularly to maintain your lean body mass and strengthen your appetite.

• 8

  Follow your nutrition program closely and review it regularly with your doctor and nutritionist for needed changes based on your monitoring results.

Seek Immediate Treatment at the First Signs of HIV-Related Wasting

• 9

  Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unintended weight loss equivalent to 5 percent of your body weight, as you may be suffering from HIV-related wasting. Wasting is evident when unintended weight loss exceeds 10 percent of body weight, but early intervention is the best approach.

• 10

  Seek immediate changes in your nutrition and exercise plan as well as appropriate medication to counter indications of wasting. Your doctor may discuss with you the possibility of using human growth hormone, steroids or other medications to treat wasting.