Obesity and Weight Gain in Persons with HIV

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe proportion of overweight and obese persons with HIV (PWH) has increased since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We aim to summarize recent literature on risks of weight gain, discuss adipose tissue changes in HIV and obesity, and synthesize current understanding of how excess adiposity and HIV contribute to metabolic complications.Recent FindingsRecent studies have implicated contemporary ART regimens, including use of integrase strand transfer inhibitors and tenofovir alafenamide, as a contributor to weight gain, though the mechanisms are unclear. Metabolic dysregulation is linked to ectopic fat and alterations in adipose immune cell populations that accompany HIV and obesity. These factors contribute to an increasing burden of metabolic diseases in the aging HIV population.SummaryObesity compounds an increasing burden of metabolic disease among PWH, and understanding the role of fat partitioning and HIV- and ART-related adipose tissue dysfunction may guide prevention and treatment strategies.
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research