For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Justin Burke - 213.201.1525

EMAIL:jburke@apla.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2000

AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES
PRESENTS HIV NUTRITION EDUCATION FORUMS
FOR MARCH

Los Angeles -- AIDS Project Los Angeles’ (APLA) Education Division is currently offering several opportunities for people living with HIV and wish to learn about diet and nutrition in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Forums are led by APLA Nutrition Advocates Marcy Fenton, MS, RD and Janelle L’Heureux, MS, RD. For more information and to reserve a space, call (323) 993-1612.

Forums for March 2000 include:

* "Maintaining Your Lean Body Mass and BIA Test," on March 7, 8 and 9
* "Dealing with High Cholesterol and Triglycerides," on March14
* "Nutrition and HIV: An Overview," on March 14

The forum "Maintain Your Lean Body Mass and BIA Test" discusses the importance of lean body mass for people with HIV/AIDS. BIA stands for Bioelectric Impedance Analysis, a test which measures body composition. HIV/AIDS medications may affect blood lipid levels and "Dealing with High Cholesterol and Triglycerides" gives practical advice on how to manage them through dietary changes. "Nutrition and HIV: An Overview" outlines the standards for good nutrition and its positive effects when combined with HIV drug therapy.

"Adhering to anti-HIV drugs can be very hard with complicated eating schedules and nasty side effects. Some foods can either enhance the therapies or inhibit the drugs’ efficacy. Often physicians do not have a qualified nutrition professional on staff and have limited time to address nutrition concerns with their patients," said APLA HIV Nutrition Advocate Marcy Fenton, MS, RD. "That is where APLA comes in. APLA has two highly experienced registered dietitians specializing in HIV nutrition and offers ongoing nutrition classes and individual appointments."

AIDS Project Los Angeles, a non-profit community-based organization, provides direct services to more than 8,000 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County. Services include a food bank, professional dental care, housing assistance, child care, transportation, mental health counseling, case management, home health care and Adult and Child Buddy support. APLA also provides extensive treatment and prevention education and advocacy on local, state and federal AIDS-related legislation.

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