Obesity in patients with HIV infection: epidemiology, consequences and treatment options

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Even though wasting used to characterize patients with HIV infection prior to the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent in this population.

Areas covered: In the present review, we discuss the epidemiology, consequences and treatment options for obesity in patients with HIV infection.

Expert commentary: Obesity exerts a multitude of detrimental cardiometabolic effects and appears to contribute to the increasing cardiovascular mortality of this population. However, there are very limited data on the optimal management of obesity in patients with HIV infection. Given the potential for interactions between antiobesity agents and ART that might compromise viral control, lifestyle changes should represent the cornerstone for the prevention and management of obesity in HIV infection.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV infection
• obesity
• cardiovascular disease
• diet
• exercise

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.