ABSTRACT
Weight loss is one of the most important clinical and psychological symptoms associated with HIV infection and AIDS and is caused by altered metabolism due to cytokine activity, malabsorption, and/or a reduction in energy intake. Each of these causes of weight loss is important, but a reduction in energy intake appears to be responsible for the greatest losses in weight in individuals with HIV infection at all stages of disease. 9 A loss of appetite or anorexia is one of the inevitable consequences of cytokine activity which is increased in response to opportunistic infections such as those seen in AIDS. However, loss of appetite associated with HIV infection can be caused by a number of other factors listed below and result in episodic weight loss during the course of the infection. Indeed, cross-sectional data suggest that significant amounts of weight are lost during the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages of HIV disease. 10 , 16 Therefore, it is important to understand the etiology of reduced energy intake if nutrition-based interventions are to succeed.
