Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of being overweight and metabolic syndrome (MS) among people living with HIV (PHIV) in three different cross‐sectional studies conducted over three different periods: 2005, 2011 and 2015. Methods This was a multi‐centre, nationwide study. Data were collected in three studies from the CISAI group – SIMOne, HIV‐HY and STOPSHIV – and included a total of 3014 PHIV. Logistic regression odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to account for age and gender difference among three groups when comparing MS prevalence and being overweight; potential confounders were accounted for by including them in the regression equation. Results Overall, the mean age was 46.9 ± 10.2 years, and men comprised 73.3% of participants. Comparing 2005, 2011 and 2015, MS was present in 34.5%, 33.0% and 29.3% of PHIV, respectively. Adjusted OR for MS was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.52–0.78) in 2011 and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.46–0.69) in 2015 compared with 2005, while BMI (kg/m2) increased from 23.6 in 2005, 24.5 in 2011 and 24.5 in 2015, with a concomitant increase of being overweight from 29.4% to 39.5% to 39.6% (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In recent years, PHIV have had a significantly improved metabolic profile compared with previously, despite increasing weight and BMI.