6.3: Nutrition, HIV & AIDS
Improve the nutritional status and support services for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Other Information:
Interaction of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS -- HIV and AIDS affects nutrition through increases in resting energy expenditure,
reduction in food intake, poor nutrient absorption and loss, and complex metabolic alterations that culminate in weight loss
and wasting. Malnutrition reduces overall immunity and increases the risk of diseases and related conditions, which expedite
the progression of HIV into AIDS. HIV, in turn, destroys the natural immune system and increases the risk of infections and
diseases. These diseases prevent adequate intake and uptake of vital nutrients. Additionally, both the disease itself and
antiretroviral therapyincreasethebody'soverallnutrientdemand.Asthevirusprogressesfrom Stage 1 toStage2,achild'senergydemandincreasesby10.0percent,andbyupto
20.0 percent at Stage 3. In HIV positive adults, caloric need can increase up to 30- 40.0 percent above the normal recommended
daily energy requirement in stage 3. The HIV and AIDS pandemic has accordingly compounded the dual burden of malnutritionanddisease.HIVandotherchronicdiseasesincreasethebody'sneedfor
micronutrients,caloriesandproteinwhilesimultaneouslydecreasingthebody's ability to work. This means that as more nutritious
food is needed within a household, less labour is available with which to produce or obtain it. This leads to less nutritious
food for everyone else in the household and inadequate diet for the person living with HIV/AIDS.
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