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A study shows that steroids, exercise, and diet changes are useful treatments for AIDS-related lipodystrophy. Patients who follow a regimen to fight fat redistribution can be helped by these treatments. Interim data from the study found that the patients following this regimen experienced up to a 15 percent increase in lean body mass. Lipodystrophy is not to be confused with AIDS wasting, which reduces fat mass. Weight loss along with fat redistribution is a sign of lipodystrophy, which repositions fat in the abdomen and face.

The study was an extension of a previous one from the University of California at Berkeley, published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Patients treated with Oxandrolone, an anabolic medication, showed an increase in lean body mass; however, their body fat did not change. The studied approach for treatment includes a dietitian's analysis and photographs to monitor appearance, along with a strict exercise program.

Editor's Note: from AIDS Alert