OBJECTIVE To describe lipid profile, body shape changes, and cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents infected with HIV/AIDS receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS We investigated 43 children and adolescents being treated with this therapy at the outpatient clinic of pediatric infectious diseases of Instituto Fernandes Figueira/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Values of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides were determined. We also performed glucose tolerance test and analyzed body fat distribution, nutritional status, dietary intake, and family history of cardiovascular risk. The statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test. Significance level of p-value was lower than 0.05. RESULTS We found lipid abnormality in 88.3% and body shape change in 13.9% of the cases. Nutritional status was adequate (81.3%) in most of the study population. Cholesterol intake in children older than 9 years was above the recommended value. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of dyslipidemia and, therefore, risk for cardiovascular diseases were high during the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy.