Aggressive antivirals to maintain the lowest viral replication that can be achieved may assist in preventing wasting. Make sure that your health care provider is aware of any side effects from your medications including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. Pay close attention to any changes in your body composition whether or not weight loss is occurring. Don't ignore changes in your body fat composition. It is not necessarily desirable to lose fat when HIV is present.
Prevention is a much more successful approach than treating weight loss after the fact.
Weight loss in women is a relatively new field of research and little information is available. Clinical trials are ongoing. For now the best way to take care of yourself is to practice good nutrition, try to control the side effects of medications, get immediate treatment of opportunistic infections, consider aggressive antiviral therapy and keep regular doctor's visits. If weight loss continues, consider a referral to a wasting clinic or a clinical trial. Some studies are using nandrolone, others are using thalidomide, and still others are exploring other methods for controlling weight loss.