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. 2020 Mar-Apr;31(2):157-166.
doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000139.

Psychosocial Correlates of Body Image and Lipodystrophy in Women Aging With HIV

Greer A Raggio  1 , Sara E Looby, Gregory K Robbins, Elyse R Park, Elsa W Sweek, Steven A Safren, Christina Psaros
Affiliations

Psychosocial Correlates of Body Image and Lipodystrophy in Women Aging With HIV

Greer A Raggio et al. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2020 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Body image disturbance is increasingly relevant as women living with HIV (WLWH) live longer. We explored body image disturbance and changes in fat distribution (lipodystrophy) in 63 WLWH (mean age = 51 years) and evaluated associations among lipodystrophy, body image, and psychosocial variables. Eighty-one percent of participants reported one or more body parts (of six assessed) demonstrating lipodystrophy, and more than one third reported three or more affected body parts. Increased belt/waist (58%) and increased chest/breast (39%) sizes were most common. More diffuse lipodystrophy was significantly associated with poorer body image (F[2,54] = 11.86, p < .001, partial η = .313) and anxiety (F[2,52] = 3.82, p = .029, partial η = .133) after controlling for age and duration of infection. Lipodystrophy was prevalent in our sample; more diffuse lipodystrophy was associated with anxiety and poor body image. Providers should assess lipodystrophy in older WLWH and provide referrals for mental health services.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures

The authors report no real or perceived vested interests related to this article that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

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