INFLUENCE OF HEALTHY LIVING HABITS IN THE TRIGGERING OF HIV LIPODYSTROPHY SYNDROME

Patients in HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) showed peripheral fat loss, central fat accumulation and/or lipid and glucose metabolic manifestations, characteristics of HIV lipodystrophy syndrome (HIVLS). The present study aimed to assess the influence of healthy lifestyle habits on HIVLS effects. The sample included 51 volunteers with serum chemistry changes that matched lipodystrophy. Food Frequency and International Physical Activity - Short Form questionnaires were used to form the following groups: control (proper feed and active, N = 31) and study (inadequate feed and/or inactive, N = 20). The groups were assessed regarding body anthropometry and lipodystrophy severity. Both groups were formed by active individuals. A poor diet contributed to high waist-hip ratio in males from the study group (p < 0.05). In addition, a poor diet also contributed to body weight increase, which causes elevated blood glucose in patients with HIVLS. There was no interference of healthy living habits in HIVLS physical severity. However, anthropometric parameters and serum biochemistry monitoring can provide valuable information for early diagnosis of secondary morphological changes related to antiretroviral therapy