Claims

1. An item of manufacture, comprising: a form-fitted undergarment comprising a waist portion having a waist circumference and a leg portion having a leg circumference, wherein a ratio of the waist circumference to the leg circumference is higher than a normal ratio; and a padded area that is configured to provide protection extending from an upper area of the waist portion to a lower area of the leg portion such that buttocks and legs of a person contacting a seat while sitting on a chair are substantially completely covered by the padded area.

2. The item of claim 1 wherein at least one of the waist portion and the leg portion comprises an elastic material.

3. The item of claim 1 wherein the ratio is characteristic of a person diagnosed with at least one of lipoatrophy, lipodystrophy, and sarcopenia.

4. The item of claim 1 wherein the ratio is further characteristic of the person diagnosed with at least one of an HIV infection, a neoplastic disease, advanced age, and chronic diabetes.

5. The item of claim 1 wherein the ratio is at least 1.9.

6. The item of claim 1 wherein the ratio is at least 2.0.

7. The item of claim 1 wherein the padded area extends to a substantially topmost end of the waist portion.

8. The item of claim 1 wherein the padded area extends to a substantially lowermost end of the leg portion.

9. The item of claim 1 wherein the padded area is configured as an independent right and left area, and wherein each area includes a removable pad.

10. The item of claim 1 wherein the padded area comprises a plurality of vent openings and is further contoured to have a thicker than average thickness in a buttock area.

11. The item of claim 10 wherein the padded area is further contoured to have a thinner than average thickness in a peripheral area of the padded area.

12. A method of providing symptomatic relief for a person suffering from at least one of HIV infection, chronic diabetes, neoplastic disease, lipoatrophy, lipodystrophy, and sarcopenia comprising a step of providing the form-fitted undergarment according to claim 1.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the ratio is at least 1.9.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the ratio is at least 2.0.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the padded area is configured as an independent right and left area, and wherein each area includes a removable pad.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the padded area comprises a plurality of vent openings and is further contoured to have a thicker than average thickness in a buttock area.

17. A method of providing improved sitting comfort to a person, comprising: providing a form-fitted undergarment comprising a waist portion and a leg portion, and further comprising a padded area; wherein the padded area is configured to provide protection extending from an upper area of the waist portion to a lower area of the leg portion such that buttocks and legs of a person contacting a seat while sitting on a chair are substantially completely covered by the padded area; and informing the person that the undergarment provides reduction in at least one of pain, numbness, local hemostasis, and deep vein thrombosis when the garment is worn during a period of sitting over at least three hours.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the padded area has an average thickness of between 0.5 inch to 1 inch.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the padded area is contoured to have a thinner than average thickness in a peripheral area of the padded area.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the padded area is configured as an independent right and left area, and wherein each area includes a removable pad.