Nutrition counselling for adolescents and adults with HIV/AIDS

Weight loss and undernutrition are common in people living with HIV/AIDS and are likely to accelerate disease progression, increase morbidity and reduce survival.

Nutritional counselling, care and support is important from the early stages of the infection to prevent the development of nutritional deficiencies. Nutrition counselling may improve health outcomes in adolescents and adults with HIV by reducing the incidence of HIV-associated complications and delaying the progression of HIV infection, thereby improving quality of life and ultimately reducing disease-related mortality.

Adequate nutrition, which is best achieved through consumption of a balanced healthy diet, is vital for health and survival for all individuals regardless of HIV status.