Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare disorder related to an abnormality on the 15th chromosome. It occurs in males and females equally and in all races. The incidence of PWS is between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 25,000 live births.
PWS typically causes low muscle tone, short stature if not treated with growth hormone, incomplete sexual development, and a chronic feeling of hunger that, coupled with a metabolism that utilizes drastically fewer calories than normal, can lead to excessive eating and life-threatening obesity.
More information:
- Support PWS research by attending the 2011 Leta Lindley Prader-Willi Classic in West Palm Beach, FL this January
- Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
- Prader-Willi Alliance of New York
- Learn about genetic testing for Prader-Willi Syndrome on the GDF’s Know Your Genes website
