Weight gain

[i_am_scared]

my partner has just been tested HIV+ and so far is healthy and has no symptoms.

in the last year he has put on a ton of weight. this weight gain looks like normal weight gain. the weight is all over. his face is more chubby and is his all over body. is weight gain a sign of lipodystrophy

do all HIV+ people get it? is it caused by meds or is it part of having HIV?

thank you

[Seven]

Well I have put on a ton of weight as well. I am a very big breasted woman to begin with, my doctor told me from the get go, that they will get bigger...boy did they ever. My belly is absolutly huge now. I gain over 60 lbs since on my meds. This is especailly hard on me, because I was very much into bodubuilding and being active. After being in the hospital almost dying a few years back, I lost all the muscle in my arms and legs, so much so that I had to walk with a walker at first. Thats how weak my legs got. Now, I lost all my leg muslce and I have all this FAT! Its hard when people know how much you enjoy trianing and being active, then they see you now. Not knowing that you are ill, they must be thinking, wow, I can't believe she let herself go like that. I have NO SELF ESTEEM anymore, I hardly want to go out. I usta be happy with my body, what girl you know was happy with their body. Well I was. I was fit and muscular. Now, I am just fat all over. The meds play the whole part in this fat gain. I did get the abnormal fat in the abdomen, my neck does seem to get a bit puffier the doctor says. This is not a good thing. I hate it! Is there any other females who have gained a ton of weight, and how are you coping with this or what are you doing?

[bobino]

Hi IAS,

I have never heard of anyone with HIV who is not on meds *gaining* weight all over the body as a result of HIV.  This doesn't mean it's not possible, but I've done a fair amount of reading on this subject and I've never heard reports of that.  I could, of course, be wrong, and if I am, I'm sure other members of this forum will correct me.

What HIV can cause -- even if one is *not* on meds -- are changes in body fat distribution.  Some people experience lipoatrophy, which is the loss of subcutaneous body fat, typically in the face, arms, legs, and buttocks (also called "peripheral fat loss").  Others experience lipohypertrophy, which is a gain of fat usually in the abdomen beneath the abdominal muscle wall and/or on the back of the neck (the so-called "buffalo hump").  Some people, like me, experience both simultaneously, although the two phenomena appear to be metabolically unrelated and independent of each other.  At least that's what the researchers think so far.

At least one prominent lipodystrophy researcher believes that most or all HIV+ people will experience some kind of body fat changes, whether or not they take medication.  So the upshot of my comment is that it seems unlikely that your partner's weight gain is HIV-related.  On the other hand, so little is known about lipodystrophy and so few researchers are doing any work on fat changes in HIV+ people who are not on meds, that it's probably impossible to say for sure that the weight gain is not HIV-induced.  


I would, however, look into any changes in your partner's lifestyle recently, such as increased caloric intake, excessive alcohol consumption, or decreased physical activity.  All of these things can cause weight gain, obviously, and a person who's just received an HIV diagnosis may do a lot of comfort eating or may drink to forget or may lose the motivation needed to exercise and stay active.  Also, if your partner started on an antidepressant to help him deal with the emotional effects of HIV, this could be a cause of weight gain.

Hope this helps.

[i_am_scared]

Bobino hi,

My partner was chubbish as a kid and in his early teenage years. He took a lot of drugs, we are talking 13 years of drugs. He has been clean for good 2 years. He said he has been despressed that last year. He is doing less exercise and eating more candy.

When I arrive into Toronto we will both start our new healthy life style. Lots of healthy eating, exercise and enjoy a more active life (substance free).

I have ever take party drugs, I never smoked nor do I drink. I do have a sweet tooth and love chocolate.

I have put on a few pounds myself. It will be good for us both. I am 34 and have to start looking after myself. Its better to start now then later.

Thank you for answering my post. I love my partner very much. Its only been 5 days since his rapid test come back POZ. I am really scared as I don't want to see him  get sick. I wish for his blood test to comeback with good results. He said he hasn't been sick at all. I guess that is good news.

Thank you for taking time to reply to my post.

Cheers