Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Aerobic Exercise and Resistance Training Plus Megestrol Acetate for HIV-Wasting

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: Patients are randomly assigned to 1 of 3 therapy groups: megestrol acetate alone, exercise plus megestrol acetate, or exercise plus placebo. Therapy continues for 12 weeks. A single dose of oral megestrol acetate or placebo is administered each morning. The exercise program consists of aerobic exercise and resistance training performed 3 times a week under supervision. Hard aerobic exercise is performed for 45 minutes plus a warm-up and cool-down period; the patient chooses to work on 3 of 5 pieces of exercise equipment. Exercise intensity is adjusted to a heart rate corresponding to 65% of maximal oxygen consumption. Resistance training is done on a universal gym; exercises are designed to work all 6 major muscle groups. Each exercise is performed at 70% of maximal single repetition resistance. Resistance is increased 5% when the patient can perform 15 repetitions without failure.