Research

Hormonal

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), particularly dolutegravir and bictegravir, cause significant weight gain and treatment-emergent obesity in people living with HIV, with effects most pronounced in women and Black individuals.

If you are living with HIV and starting or switching to an INSTI-based regimen (like dolutegravir or bictegravir), be aware that significant weight gain is a known side effect, especially if you are a woman or Black. Monitor your weight closely. If you experience excessive gain, discuss switching to a regimen with a lower weight gain profile (like one using TDF instead of TAF) with your provider.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
accumulating evidence suggests that therapies including new generation integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) cause more weight gain and treatment-emergent obesity than other ART regimens... The statistically significant increases in body weight and clinical obesity with INSTIs appear to be most pronounced in Black individuals and women
Paula Freitas et al. · Infectious diseases · 2023

Why this rating

Supported by multiple randomized studies and large cohort studies (NA-ACCORD, Women’s Interagency HIV Study), though the paper notes some inconsistency and need for more RCTs.

Source

HIV Treatment and Obesity: What’s New?

Paula Freitas et al. · Infectious diseases · 2023

DOI 10.5772/intechopen.112667

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Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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