| est statistics indicate that as many as 950,000 | | | | or tired and notice that they are unintentionally losing |
| Americans may be infected with HIV, the virus that | | | | weight. Typically, people with HIV wasting experience |
| can cause AIDS. Even with advances in HIV | | | | a loss of lean body mass, which includes muscles and |
| treatments that have helped improve the lives of | | | | organ tissue. |
| those with the condition, HIV wasting remains a | | | | What causes HIV wasting? |
| significant problem. | | | | Although the exact cause of HIV wasting is not yet |
| One such person is former West Hollywood mayor | | | | known, many factors may contribute to wasting |
| John Duran. Several years after he was diagnosed | | | | including low food intake, poor nutrient absorption, a |
| with HIV, Duran experienced a rapid 60-pound drop in | | | | change in metabolism and HIV-related infections. |
| weight, most of which he attributed to the loss of | | | | • Low appetite is common with HIV and |
| muscle mass. He discovered that his sudden weight | | | | some AIDS treatments have to be taken on an |
| loss was the result of a condition known as HIV | | | | empty stomach, or with a meal. This can make it |
| wasting. | | | | difficult for some people with AIDS to eat when |
| "I was surprised to learn that my sudden weight loss | | | | they are hungry. Also, drug side effects and |
| was a result of HIV and that HIV wasting is a | | | | infections in the mouth or throat can make it painful |
| common effect of the disease," Duran said. "I want | | | | for people with HIV to eat. |
| people to know that HIV wasting does not have to | | | | • In people with HIV, several infections |
| impact your daily life. Managing the symptoms of this | | | | interfere with the nutrient absorption. Diarrhea, a |
| condition is important to managing your health and an | | | | frequent side effect of AIDS drugs, can also cause |
| essential part of feeling good about yourself. It gave | | | | loss of calories and nutrients. |
| me the self-confidence to accomplish my dreams." | | | | • Food processing and protein building are also |
| What is HIV wasting? | | | | affected by HIV. People with HIV need more calories |
| HIV wasting involves the unintentional loss of body | | | | just to maintain their body weight. |
| weight or lean body mass. Lean body mass includes | | | | Can unintentional weight loss be serious? Significant |
| mainly the muscles and organ tissue and also fluids in | | | | weight loss in people living with HIV/AIDS leads to |
| your body. When you are healthy, the food you eat | | | | greater risk of further complications and even death. |
| is broken down and converted to energy so you can | | | | What can I do if I or someone I love suffers from |
| function normally-a process called metabolism. When | | | | this condition? |
| your metabolism is working right, your body fat is | | | | HIV wasting can be treated with appetite stimulants, |
| used for energy. With HIV wasting, however, the | | | | nutritional supplements and hormone treatments. |
| body uses mostly lean body mass for energy instead. | | | | "Because I'm able to pro-actively manage my illness |
| This can be serious if it goes undetected and | | | | and associated conditions such as HIV wasting," |
| untreated. | | | | Duran said, "I'm able to focus on what is most |
| What are the symptomsof HIV wasting? | | | | important to me-my life, my job, my community and |
| People with HIV wasting gradually begin to feel weak | | | | my family. |