Lizzie Velásquez suffers from a rare congenital disease which, among other symptoms, impedes her from accumulating body fat. She is is an American motivational speaker and author. This condition resulted in bullying during her childhood and early youth and ultimately inspired her to take up motivational speaking.
Velásquez has so rare medical condition that only two other people are known to have it. She has zero percent body fat and has never weighed more than 29 kg (64 pounds). Although Velásquez does not have anorexia nervosa, she is unable to gain weight and is required to eat many small meals and snacks throughout the day. Her daily energy intake of about 5,000 calories (21,000 kJ) compares with the US average of 3,770 calories (15,800 kJ). She is blind in her right eye, which began to cloud over when she was four years of age, and has limited vision in the other. She has a weak immune system. Her condition is similar to many other conditions, especially progeria.
However, her condition is not terminal. Involved medical researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have expressed the opinion that it may be a form of neonatal progeroid syndrome, which at least has spared her healthy bones, organs, and teeth.
Doctors told them not to expect anything from her, as Lizzie was so fragile she probably could not move, maybe even think.
Professor Garg and his team now believe Lizzie may have a form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome (NPS) which causes accelerated ageing, fat loss from the face and body, and tissue degeneration. People with PRS often have triangular and prematurely aged faces with a pointy nose.
Lizzie is blessed with the treasure of having a loving and supporting family who has always felt proud of her. Her parents always treated her as a healthy, perfect child.
To see what she’s doing now is just awesome
, says the mother.
Posted Article in Food & Health