Thank you for your question.<\/p>\n
It is difficult for me to answer your question accurately without further information.<\/p>\n
For example, I need to know something about your current \u00a0age, height and your \u2018normal\u2019 weight before you were positive in 2008. Also,\u00a0where on your body you are putting on weight e.g. around your stomach, chest and back or elsewhere.<\/p>\n
As a general rule, most people put on weight when they start HIV treatment (ART).<\/p>\n
On average this ipeople gain\u00a05-10% of their pre-ART body weight. This is a good thing and is realted to a return to better health. It is due to your body having to work really hard to fight the infection before ART when your viral load was still high.<\/p>\n
Once ART\u00a0starts to reduce your viral load, your body no longer needs\u00a0as much energy fighting HIV. Even if you\u00a0are not eating more food, the rate at which you burn it has changed and this could mean there is some weight gain.<\/p>\n
However, fat accumulation is also a well documented side effect (called lipodystrophy) that was reported with nearly every combination. This is especailly the case when ART was first developed.<\/p>\n
Please ask your doctor whether your symptoms are more likely to be a side effect than normal ‘return-to-health’ weight gain.<\/p>\n
Lipodystrophy involves fat accumulating in the abdomen (stomach), breasts, shoulders, neck and is sometimes exaggerated by fat loss from the arms, legs, buttocks and face.<\/p>\n
Although this usually only happens slowly over several years, there have also been reports of it occuring more quickly in some people.<\/p>\n