Background: A high prevalence of undernutrition (40%) exists among adults living with HIV (ALHIV) in India due to their increased metabolic demands. Diminished nutritional status in turn has been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality among ALHIV. Nutritional assessment and its management are an integral part of HIV care; however, no strategy exists for screening of undernutrition among ALHIV.

Materials and methods: The nutrition care model has been developed for undertaking nutritional assessment by classifying the severity of undernutrition based on body mass index (BMI) and identification of early signs of undernutrition including anemia and hypoalbuminemia among ALHIV.

Results and conclusion: The model suggests energy and protein intake based on the BMI and indicates desirable body weight corresponding to a BMI of 21 kg/m². Based on these requirements, the portion size of each major food group is provided for individualized dietary counseling by frontline workers. ALHIV found with signs and symptoms of anemia, low hemoglobin, and serum albumin are referred to the nearest health facility. Large-scale operational research and field validation studies are planned to better understand the effectiveness of the model in improving the nutritional and clinical outcomes and the strengths and limitations as an operational tool in programmatic settings.

Keywords: BMI; HIV; diet; nutrition.

Copyright: © 2025 Indian Journal of Community Medicine.

背景: 在印度，生活着艾滋病毒（HIV）的成年人中有40%的人患有营养不良，这是由于他们增加了代谢需求。而较低的营养状况反过来与艾滋病病毒感染者发病率和死亡率增加有关。营养评估及其管理是HIV护理的重要组成部分；然而，目前没有用于筛查HIV感染者营养不良的战略。

材料和方法: 开发了营养照护模型，通过基于体重指数（BMI）的分类来执行营养评估，并识别包括贫血和低白蛋白血症在内的早期营养不良迹象，以应对生活在印度的HIV感染者中的营养问题。

结果与结论: 该模型根据体重指数建议能量和蛋白质摄入量，并指出对应BMI为21 kg/m²的理想体重。根据这些需求，每个主要食物组的分量大小被提供出来，以便前线工作人员进行个性化的饮食咨询。如果发现HIV感染者有贫血的症状、低血红蛋白或低白蛋白水平，则将其转介到最近的医疗机构接受进一步治疗。计划进行大规模操作研究和现场验证研究，以更好地了解该模型在改善营养状况和临床结果方面的有效性，并理解其作为项目设置中操作工具的优势和局限性。

关键词: BMI；HIV；饮食；营养。