People living with HIV/AIDS: body image and its important associations with mental health and BMI

ABSTRACT

Patients on antiretroviral therapy face new challenges, such as bodily changes. We conducted a cross-sectional study with people living with HIV/AIDS. We investigate the self-perception of body image and its associations. Most of the patients reported negative self-perception of body image (NSPBI), being mostly women, up to 40 years old and with changes in BMI. NSPBI was associated with depressive symptoms and punctual alterations in the redistribution of body fat: face, abdomen and legs, subjects still little elucidated. Assessing neglected aspects can improve the way these patients see themselves, and come to understand the disease as only a part of their lives.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• BMI
• Mental Health
• Perceived Body Fat

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the funding granted by the National Research Council (CNPQ/Brazil) and the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the CNPQ/Brazil [475294/2012/2];Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio Grande do Sul [002/2013, EFP_00007715].