Obesity is a multi-causal disease. One of the possible factors is a genetic disorder, known as Prader-Willi syndrome. If you want to know more about the relationship between this disease, food cravings and excessive weight gain, do not miss this article.
While obesity has increased trigger as the wrong eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, there is a percentage of people suffering from genetic disorders which cause excessive weight gain, as in the case of Prader Willi Syndrome, also known as PWS.
What is Prader Willi Syndrome?
This syndrome occurs for various alterations that occur in chromosome 15, and no family history necessary for the onset of the syndrome. While PWS sufferers have different symptoms and signs, overweight and obesity is one of the most obvious.
Causes by why people with Prader Willi syndrome are obese
Decreased metabolism. As a child with PWS grow your metabolism changes. This slows down, burning fewer calories for energy. Which results increase in weight sustained over time.
Inability to feel satiety. Genetic alteration prevents them from stop feeling hunger, since your brain does not register satiety stimuli sent by the stomach.
They do not control the amount of food they eat. Because they do not feel satiety, have no control of what they eat.
Low levels of GH. Due to low levels of growth hormone (GH) is produced not only a reduction in the size of growth but increases the fatty tissue.
What should be the diet of a person suffering PWS?
- Diet should be a balanced and harmonious. It should contain fewer calories in relation to a normal diet, but always respecting a harmony between the different percentages of nutrients.
- Low in calories. If the weight of the sufferer is suitable PWS establishes the following formula: height in cmx10 kcal/day. Now if the weight is over the formula would change to: height in cmx8.8 Kcal/day.
- You must be a controlled diet. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is to control for food because they do not have to forget that these people (whether children or adults) can not control food cravings.
How should be a sample menu for a person with PWS?
Breakfast: 1 glass skim milk with fresh fruit either apple or pear.
Mid Morning: 1 slice bread with a slice of York ham, fat-free type.
Lunch: 125gm grilled fish with vegetable panache (you can use 100gm green beans, brussels sprouts, carrots, potatoes and peppers). 1 slice bread. 1 orange.
Snack: 1½ yogurt and fruit.
Dinner: A bowl of noodle soup (just 20 grams noodles). 100gm chicken grilled with 100grm vegetables. 1 slice bread. 1 peach.
For people who suffer from PSW is important to control the access of food inside and outside the home, since the meal is usually a great temptation, and worst of all you can not control the urge to eat. Thus, they need support and control of family and friends not to fall into temptation.
