Can Someone Explain How This Condition Works? Only 3 People Have It.

[type12]

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https://www.kickstarter.com/project...lizzie-velasquez-documentary?ref=home_popular

So, great KickStarter and all that, but this woman's condition is interesting. She states that when she was born, doctors told the parents not to get their hopes up, which means they knew what she had despite only two other cases. How is that possible?

How does this condition, which she states prevents her from gaining weight, work? And, how did she gain 50 lbs if she was unable to gain weight? She also mentions she has zero fat, so does this mean she only cannot hold fat?

Thanks for any insights! I have scoured the web, but since the condition is unnamed, it's a little difficult. Using her name gets more political hits than anything else.

 

[ciestar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming the weight gained occurred as she grew (bones get longer, muscles bulkier so to speak)

 

[LizzyM]

Her doctors knew that there was something wrong because she was 4 weeks premature and weighed just a little over 2 pounds (even at 10 weeks premature a baby weighs about 3 pounds). They suspected one condition but set aside that possibility when the baby did not demonstrate intellectual deficits.

She has no body fat. I suspect that she has a mutation that prevents fat deposition. Of course, her bones and organs have grown over time and therefore she has increased in weight but not in body fat. She eats constantly because she cannot depend on fat stores for energy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/h...-must-eat-every-15-minutes-to-stay-alive.html

 

[Ismet]

Possibly an error in lipid metabolism. Some believe it's a very rare form of neonatal progeroid syndrome.

 

[masaraksh]

"despite consuming 5000-8000 calories daily"... has never gained weight. 😵

stupid question - but if people with this syndrome cannot store fat/lipids, can you still build muscle mass? Would you be able to like do protein + lift to gain mass?

Also, is it possible to do like "reverse-liposuction" adipose tissue transplant?

 

[mehc012]

"despite consuming 5000-8000 calories daily"... has never gained weight. 😵

stupid question - but if people with this syndrome cannot store fat/lipids, can you still build muscle mass? Would you be able to like do protein + lift to gain mass?

Also, is it possible to do like "reverse-liposuction" adipose tissue transplant?

If she grew, then yes she is able to build muscles. Otherwise she would still be 2lbs.

 

[WingedOx]

Do threads like this instantly bring this song to mind for anyone else... or am I just significantly older than you all?

 

[Spinach Dip]

As far as I understand, her body does not contain fat cells or the few fat cells she does have are inoperable and thus cannot store any lipids whatsoever.

As for the rarity of the condition, that is probably because it is an embryonic lethal in the majority of cases. This lady is one of the few (very few) with this condition who ever made it to birth. All the others died in the womb.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

Sort of an aside to the disease, but she went to my undergrad, and I saw her around campus a few times. I never spoke to her, but we have some mutual friends and they all say that she's a really great person!

 

[nabilesmail]

Her Ted Talks was pretty good, check it out!

 

[DermViser]

Do threads like this instantly bring this song to mind for anyone else... or am I just significantly older than you all?

Who is Natalie Merchant? Is she a new artist?