Exercise and HIV Infection

Abstract HIV infection is characterized by two opposing macronutrient problems: wasting and lipodystrophy. Wasting is defined as the unintentional loss of 10% or more of body weight. Lipodystrophy is the loss of subcutanous fat in the legs, arms, and face, with increased deposition of fat in the abdomen, breasts, and upper back. In both cases, there is evidence that a judicious diet and exercise can help to reverse or ameliorate these abnormalities. This brief review outlines the current evidence that resistance exercise can be used to treat wasting, and that combined aerobic and resistance exercise can reduce abdominal fat gain in lipodystrophy.