Weight loss steroids are now being considered to help those with AIDS or HIV to help them gain weight. Originally steroids were used by bodybuilders because they were found to build up muscle. However, over recent years it has been found that steroids increase lean muscle tissue in those people with AIDS or HIV as well.



Currently no controlled studies have been carried out to see just what effect steroids do have on people with HIV. One pilot study carried out at the Kobler Centre, London gave participants low doses of the Stanozolol steroid to take. Some of the participants would each day carry out a daily weight training regime and the others were required just to take the drug.

During the six weeks that they were taken the steroids those who were exercising each day gained an additional 4kg of weight. Whilst those who only needed to take the steroids so that their weight remained the same. However, after completion of the treatment all lost on average 1kg which was put down to eliminating water that had been retained. So those who took the steroids and exercised they gained 3kg extra weight during the six week period.

The problem with this particular study is that nobody was asked to purely just exercise to see if they could gain weight. So it does not show whether taking the steroids or exercising were actually the reason for why people had gained weight whilst carrying out the treatment. But it does suggest however that exercise is crucial to any plan where a person is trying to gain rather than lose weight.

The kinds of steroids that are used in medications prescribed to HIV and AIDS patients are those which are classed as being corticosteroids like hydrocortisone or prednisolone. These although different from steroids which bodybuilders use can affect the way in which the body functions.

Certainly we are made constantly aware of the serious side effects which anabolic steroids can have on a person. One of these being that they can cause damage to the liver which in some cases can prove to be fatal. But this depends on the dosage used and how long they are used for. Also injecting steroids rather than taking them orally tend not to be as harmful to the liver.

Steroids are known for affecting our mood, energy and appetite levels, and not always in ways that will be beneficial to us. It is important to remember that steroids increase male hormone levels in the body and can lead to your aggressive side being amplified. You may find for unknown reasons you react more quickly in an angry or aggressive way even though the provocation may be slight.

But along with weight loss steroid treatments being used to ensure a good level of weight is maintained in people with HIV or AIDS other drugs may be used. Sometimes ones like Megestrol Acetate are used as they help to increase a person's appetite. Which when used help to increase weight by increasing the lean muscle mass.