Evolução de parâmetros antropométricos em portadores do vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana ou com Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida: um estudo prospectivo

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

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.

Factors associated with undernourishment among people 20 years old or over with HIV/AIDS, attending public health services in the São Paulo municipality, Brazil

The study evaluated the nutritional status of 629 people living with HIV/AIDS attended at 12 specialized services of São Paulo's Municipal Health Department, Brazil. Data were obtained from medical records and through interviews during nutritional consultation. We used the classification criteria established by World Health Organization to assess malnourished individuals, a BMI < 18.5kg/m2. The prevalence of malnutrition in people with AIDS is 3.12 times that observed among people with HIV, and among people with co-infection it is 3.41 times that obtained among people without co-infection. This indicates how these conditions can harm the maintenance of the nutritional status, and shows that they demand a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon, as well as the development of strategies to improve the health care of individuals at nutritional risk.