Meet the Brazilian boy who weighs 154 pounds

A young Brazilian boy, who was born a healthy 6lb, 6oz, has now ballooned up to an alarming 154lb at the young age of three.

Doctors believe the boy, Misael, may be suffering from Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). This rare genetic condition is characterized by a constant hunger and desire to eat, which can lead to not only dangerous weight gain but also to learning difficulties and reduced muscle tone.

A young Brazilian boy, who was born a healthy 6lb, 6oz, has now ballooned up to an alarming 154lb at the young age of three.

Doctors believe the boy, Misael, may be suffering from Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). This rare genetic condition is characterized by a constant hunger and desire to eat, which can lead to not only dangerous weight gain but also to learning difficulties and reduced muscle tone.

People who suffer from PWS are also likely to have behavioral problems, such as temper tantrums or stubbornness.

MailOnline reports that children with PWS are likely to still feel hungry after eating three to six times more than others of the same age.

Misael, who also has behavioral problems, has gained six pounds every month of his life; at his current weight, he struggles to walk.

In addition to potentially suffering from the syndrome, he also has an underactive thyroid, which can cause weight gain. His parents have said that medication to treat his thyroid has proven ineffective.

Misael’s father, Michael, described some of the difficulties of the family’s everyday life with Misael, noting that even “leaving the house with him is difficult.”

Michael said that “when we walk down the street, people stop, want to take pictures with him, people say that they never saw [a boy] this size, people want to know how old he is, how much he weighs…”

In fact, transporting Misael is so problematic that the family, from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, has to hire a private taxi.

Sadly, there is no cure for PWS. Instead, treatments aim to manage the symptoms associated problems of the syndrome.

As Mail Online reports, restricting a child’s diet is a particularly important part of managing the child’s condition. And, while PWS itself is not life-threatening, the compulsive eating and resulting weight gain can be: younger adults with the condition are at a higher risk of developing the obesity-related conditions usually seen in older adults, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart failure

Source: Daily Mail