Assessment of dietary habits and lifestyle among people with HIV.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the consumption of specific food groups by people with HIV and to determine the quality of their diets.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the relationship between selected eating habits and lifestyles of people infected with HIV. The research was conducted at the HIV/AIDS Preventative and Therapeutic Clinic of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Therapy Center at Wrocław Health Center (SPZOZ Wrocław), Poland.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study was conducted in 2019 among 31 patients of a counselling center in Wrocław. To determine the frequency of food consumption and eating habits, the KomPAN® questionnaire, prepared by employees of the Polish Academy of Sciences, was used.

RESULTS

All study participants were characterized by a small degree of unhealthy features in their diets; 87% of the respondents also demonstrated a small degree of healthy features in their diets, although the responses they gave showed that they assessed their nutritional knowledge and diet highly. Consumption of sweet snacks and adding salt to cooked meals were prevalent. The respondents took part in moderate physical activity and rarely consumed highly processed fast food products, though they ate fish and legumes - an important part of the diet - with similar frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

More attention should be given to the nutritional issues of patients treated for HIV, and emphasis should be placed on promoting healthy eating habits among this population. In the scientific literature, few such studies are available that address issues related to the diet of HIV-infected people.