Although many overweight individuals desire to lose weight, unintentional weight loss is a cause for concern and is sometimes seen in people with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. HIV is a virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, which can be fatal. Although medicines can help people with AIDS live a longer, healthier lifestyle, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 18,000 people in the U.S. still die each year from this disease.
Background
HIV and AIDS can cause unintentional weight loss. However, there are a number of other factors that may cause weight loss including depression, other illnesses, cancer or taking certain medications. MayoClinic.com encourages you to seek help from a medical professional if you unexpectedly lose 5 percent of your body weight, or 10 Ibs. or more.
Causes
If you're infected with HIV, unexpected weight loss could be caused by medications, HIV-related illnesses, decreased appetite, inadequate nutrients, altered metabolism, depression or combinations of these. According to the AIDS InfoNet, rates of depression in the general population are 5 to 10 percent, while rates in people with HIV may be as high as 60 percent.
Wasting
"Wasting" is a term associated with unwanted weight loss in people with HIV, and is defined as losing more than 10 percent of your body weight, according to AIDS InfoNet. Wasting can be caused by increased metabolism or low food intake. Wasting is the loss of both fat and muscle tissue, and can cause serious health problems for people with HIV. People undergoing treatment with HIV medications may still experience wasting.
Treatment
Treatment for weight loss associated with HIV depends on the cause. If nausea-causing HIV medications are responsible for the weight loss, a doctor may recommend treating the nausea, switching to a different medication or following a nausea-friendly diet. In some cases, nutritional supplements may be recommended to increase weight. Hormone treatments could have potential to help with wasting.
Prevention
HIV is spread through sexual contact, blood and from mother to baby during delivery or through breast milk. To lower your risk for contracting HIV and associated unwanted weight loss, avoid unprotected sexual contact with an infected person, contact with blood and injection drug use. If you already have HIV, decrease your chances of progressing to AIDS by seeing an HIV specialist and taking antiretroviral medications if recommended.
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