HIV/AIDS reduces food intake

HIV/AIDS reduces food intake

People with HIV/AIDS often do not eat enough because:

• the illness and the medicines taken for it may reduce the appetite, modify the taste of food and prevent the body from absorbing it;
• symptoms such as a sore mouth, nausea and vomiting make it difficult to eat;
• tiredness, isolation and depression reduce the appetite and the willingness to make an effort to prepare food and eat regularly;
• there is not enough money to buy food.

HIV/AIDS reduces the absorption of food

Food, once eaten, is broken down by digestion into nutrients. These nutrients pass through the gut walls into the bloodstream and are transported to the organs and tissues in the body where they are needed. One of the consequences of HIV and other infections is that since the gut wall is damaged, food does not pass through properly and is consequently not absorbed.

Diarrhoea is a common occurrence in people with HIV/AIDS. When a person has diarrhoea the food passes through the gut so quickly that it is not properly digested and fewer nutrients are absorbed.

Reduced food intake and absorption lead to weight loss and malnutrition.