Q and A

Question

I’ve been on ARVs since 2005 but my legs are thin?

Hi, I have been on ARVs since 2005 but my body has changed. My legs are now thin.

Answer

Hi there

Thanks for your question but without more details it is difficult to comment in detail.

The following things might help though.

First, have you talked to your doctor about this? If yes, what do they say?

Secondly, although early HIV drugs caused body changes in some people, including fat loss, this is not a problem with modern treatment. You don’t say which current drugs you are using. Also, which drugs you used in the past.

Sometimes body changes were worse in people who started treatment with a very low CD4 count. This means that advanced HIV could also be responsible.

Are the changes recent? Or did this happen slowly over many years?

Most of us find that our bodies also change as we get older. So as well as being on treatment, you are now 16 years older than when you started.

Unfortunately, whatever the cause, there is not an easy solution to make your legs larger again. Diet and exercise can help – for example, exercising with weights to build up your leg muscles. This is difficult but it might slowly help.

Exercise can also help in other ways that makes you appreciate your body. Most of us never quite look the way we want to – especially as we get older – but this shouldn’t stop us still enjoying the body that we have.

4 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Margaret, do you mind me asking what HIV treatment you are taking? and have you always used the same treatment for the last 23 years?

    When did you first notice that you legs, bum and hips are too thin? Have you tried anything to increase their size e.g., targeted exercise to build muscle mass? How is your weight in general?

  2. Margaret

    I have the same problem my legs are too thin my bum hips and things are too thin 23 yrs on medication

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Thandie, what is the name of the treatment you are taking?

    I am sorry to hear about your loss of confidence. How much weight have you lost? and when did you first notice that you were losing weight/body becoming thin?

    Have you noticed any other changes in your body e.g., weight around the stomach, changes in colour, stretch marks or rashes? Have you spoken with a doctor before about how you are feeling?

  4. Thandie

    I have been on arvs since 2009my body has total change my bums hips my legs and thighs are thin I’m completely shapeless my corfindece gone

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