How does Prader Willi syndrome affect obesity?

The obesity associated with PWS results from a chronic imbalance between energy intake and expenditure due to hyperphagia, decreased physical activity, reduced metabolic rate and an inability to vomit. Individuals with PWS have a lower lean body mass compared with controls contributing to reduced energy expenditure.

Can you be skinny with Prader Willi Syndrome?

It is difficult to maintain a healthy weight with PWS, however, not all people are obese, or even overweight. Although it can be challenging, by taking steps to eat a healthy or calorie restricted diet, as well as exercising frequently, people with PWS can keep their weight down.

How does Prader Willi Syndrome affect the body?

Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex genetic condition that affects many parts of the body. In infancy, this condition is characterized by weak muscle tone (hypotonia), feeding difficulties, poor growth, and delayed development.

How many people with Prader-Willi syndrome are obese?

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is considered the most frequent genetic cause of obesity, occurring in ~1:10,000–1:30,000 live births. PWS arises due to the loss of expression of paternally derived genes in the PWS critical region on chromosome 15q11-q13.

Does Prader-Willi syndrome cause weight gain?

A classic sign of Prader-Willi syndrome is a constant craving for food, resulting in rapid weight gain, starting around age 2 years. Constant hunger leads to eating often and consuming large portions. Unusual food-seeking behaviors, such as hoarding food, or eating frozen food or even garbage, may develop.

Do people with Prader-Willi ever feel full?

A key feature of Prader-Willi syndrome is a constant sense of hunger that usually begins at about 2 years of age. People with Prader-Willi syndrome want to eat constantly because they never feel full (hyperphagia), and they usually have trouble controlling their weight.

What is the average lifespan of a person with Prader-Willi syndrome?

The age of mortality was noted for 425 subjects with an average of 29.5 ± 16 years and ranged between 2 months and 67 years and significantly lower among males (28 ±16 years) compared with females (32 ±15 years) (F=6.5, p<0.01).

What is the death rate for Prader-Willi syndrome?

Evidence suggests that Prader-Willi syndrome carries a risk of significant morbidity and mortality. Whittington and colleagues (2001) calculated an approximate death rate of 3\% per year for those with Prader-Willi syndrome compared to that of 1\% per year for the general population.