title: Obesity among patients with HIV: the latest epidemic.
abstract: Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), studies have been conflicting regarding weight information among patients with HIV. We performed a retrospective study among male patients with HIV between June 2004 and June 2005 at two large U.S. Navy HIV clinics to describe the prevalence and factors associated with being overweight/obese. Rates of obesity/overweight among HIV-positive patients were also compared to data from HIV-negative military personnel. Of the 661 HIV-infected patients, 419 (63%) were overweight/obese and only 5 (1%) were underweight. Patients with HIV had a mean age of 41.0 years (range, 20-73 years) and were racially diverse. The prevalence rates of being overweight/obese at the last visit were similar among both HIV-positive and -negative military members. Being overweight/obese at the last clinic visit was associated with gaining weight during the course of HIV infection (10.4 versus 4.0 pounds, p < 0.001), hypertension (36% versus 23%, p = 0.001), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL; 40% versus 31%, p < 0.001), and a higher CD4 cell count at last visit (592 versus 499 cells/mm(3), p < 0.001). These data demonstrate that patients with HIV in the HAART era are commonly overweight and/or obese with rates similar to the general population. Being overweight/obese is associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Weight assessment and management programs should be a part of routine HIV clinical care.
authors.affiliation: HIV Clinic, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California 92134, USA. Nancy.crum@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crum-Cianflone
authors.forename: Raechel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tejidor
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barahona
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganesan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult