[b]In fact, the 21-year-old from Austin, Texas, must eat every 15 minutes to stay healthy.

Lizzie Velasquez has a rare and undiagnosed syndrome that prevents her from putting on weight

Miss Velasquez has a rare condition which prevents her from gaining weight even though she eats up to 60 small meals a day.
Despite consuming between 5,000 and 8,000 calories daily, the communications student, has never tipped over 4st 3lbs.

"I weigh myself regularly and if I gain even one pound I get really excited," said 5ft 2 ins Miss Velasquez, who wears size triple zero clothes.
"I eat every 15-20 minutes to keep my energy levels up.

"I eat small portions of crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, chicken, cake, doughnuts, ice cream, noodles and pop tarts all day long, so I get pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic."

She was born four weeks prematurely weighing just 2lb 10oz. Doctors found there was minimal amniotic fluid protecting her in the womb.

"They told us they had no idea how she could have survived," said Miss Velasquez's mother Rita, 45, a church secretary.[/b]

Doctors speculated Lizzie might have the genetic disorder De Barsy syndrome but soon ruled it out as it became clear she did not have learning difficulties.
"They kept on trying to figure out what was wrong with her but we treated her like any other child," said Mrs Velasquez, who charted her daughter's health in dozens of notebooks.

She was taken to see genetic experts but they still could not diagnose her.
Miss Velasquez's case has fascinated doctors all over the world and she is part of a genetic study run by Professor Abhimanyu Garg, MD, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

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.
He said: "I am aware of a small number of people that have similar conditions to Lizzie but each case is slightly different.

"We cannot predict what will happen to Lizzie in the future as the medical community are yet to document older people with NPS.
"However Lizzie is lucky to have healthy teeth, organs and bones so the outlook is good. We will continue to study her case and learn from her." Miss Velasquez has helped to write a book about her incredible experiences.
It is due to be released in September.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7858664/The-girl-who-must-eat-every-15-minutes-to-stay-alive.html

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God help her.

Omg!! God is her strength

This is the same girl that was awarded the ugliest girl in the world. I never knew she had eating problems.

afam4eva: This is the same girl that was awarded the ugliest girl in the world. I never knew she had eating problems.

I knew she looked familiar.

What's also strange is how almost most of her body looks frail. Her breasts don't look affected in that first picture.

na this one wey lion go see Waka pass

ogugua88:

I knew she looked familiar.

What's also strange is how almost most of her body looks frail. Her breasts don't look affected in that first picture.

I think she did some padding. That's what you guys call it right?

afam4eva: I think she did some padding. That's what you guys call it right?

Lol. They do look bigger in the first picture. There could be padding in the top she's wearing, although it looks like a bathing suit top.

Ewwww, but it would be nice to eat 60 meals a day

afam4eva: This is the same girl that was awarded the ugliest girl in the world. I never knew she had eating problems.

Was she given the award or did she try to contest for it?

Sounds so mean.

Oh! Poor lizzie, let them give her eba(garri) that can keep her for abt 5hrs.
All those chips and cheeses cant keep her more than 15mins.

Oh wow bless her. She looks like she might break with the slightest contact.

Her böobs and tummy seems to be unaffected-ish.

*Ileke-IdI:


Was she given the award or did she try to contest for it?

Sounds so mean.

I'm not really good at using words. What do you call whensomeone is named the ugliest girl in the world by the guiness book of record.