Not my fault I am fat 9pm BBC1

[RTKangaMummy]

About a boys and girls with insatiable appetities

9pm BBC1 tonight

[beansprout]

What is the angle on this? Does it address eating disorders or genetic predispositions?

[RTKangaMummy]

PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME

Not sure which way it is leaning

[RTKangaMummy]

Craig, Leona and Chris all have Prader-Willi syndrome, a condition where the part of the brain that controls appetite doesn't work, so you feel constantly, insatiably hungry. To make matters worse, PWS slows the metabolism, so it's hard not to put weight on rapidly. Hence, Craig weighs 17 stone, even though he's only 13. And he always craves food. Five minutes after eating cod and chips, 30-stone Chris is hungry again. Left to their own devices, those with PWS become obese and the only treatment is strict rationing, a tough regime that we see Leona undergo. Your heart goes out to all three, but there's always the hint of a freak show in programmes like this. Still, if it helps to change attitudes to obesity, so much the better.

[misdee]

its the local indian takeaways fault i am fat.

PWS is sad, i remember reading about a family who had a jail-type door on their kitchen with a huge lock, as their son had PWS and would break into the fridge and eat everything.

[Blossomhill]

I know a little girl with this. Childern with Prada Willi Syndrome have very distinctive features. That's how it is usually diagnosed.
Dd went to the sn playgroup with a little girl who had it.
interesting site here

[RTKangaMummy]

Thanks for the link BH

[RTKangaMummy]

On now

[Yurtgirl]

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[misdee]

i found it really interesting, and felt so sad that chris (the older one) was unabale to get the right support he needed.

[RTKangaMummy]

what happened with girl and boy

what did they right at end missed the written words

[RTKangaMummy]

write

[misdee]

the girl lost another 30lb, criag lost 35lb in 4months at his new school.


didnt u have your glasses on?

[milge]

I found the programme really interesting, but did anyone else notice the difference between Chris's family and Leona's and Craigs. She made me so cross just sitting there, saying "he needs some one to discipline him". Obviously we didn't see the previous 20 years of her time mothering him, but it seemed as if she has resigned herself to the fact that he is going to eat himself to death.Maybe she is fed up of fighting the system, but

[RTKangaMummy]

Yurtgirl did you think it was a fair prog?

I was looking at laptop screen oops

[RTKangaMummy]

Thanks misdee

[misdee]

at the beginning they said chris' weight had doubled since leaving school. so i think she had been working hard for years to control his diet, but once he is an adult maybe she felt he needed freedom more, and IMO she didnt look like she wnated him to leave home. and sqaid he needed proper care.

must be so hard.

[RTKangaMummy]

misdee I guess the hard thing is letting him go into outside world

I thought that carer guy should have been told more of what is involved in helping chris.

I felt he needed some more info before he could help.

[Prufrock]

I had a friend with PWS. I met him when we were 4. He lived opposite me and for years we were bst friends - round at each others houses every day. Then by about 11 I outgrew him. He became best friends with my 4 year old brother. And when Nick got to be 11ish he transferred his affections to our 4 year old sister.
I really loved Eddie, but as an adult he was a nightmare to cope with - God knows how his mother did. Last nights programme was useful for me as it made me realise that soem of his unattractive charachter traits (the amazing ability to manipulate, the naivety and tantrums) were actually part of the syndrome rather than just him. Eddie was, always will be just like a toddler - and I love my toddler, but if I thought I would have to put up with toddler behaviour for the next 40 years I don't know what I'd do. So don't be too hard on Chris's Mum.

Eddie is 30 now, and living in an assisted living house with 4 other adults with special needs. He is obese, and his health is affected by this, but not to a lethal level. He works as a market trader - my Dad used to tutor him in Maths, and whilst he was unable to teach him algebra or trig, he can do calcultae prices and change in a flash. I have never had a friend who was more lovable or loving than him.

[suedonim]

I didn't see the programme but a friend's ds was diagnosed with PWS when he was about two. He had terrible breath-holding tantrums and was very fat. He was also severely developmentally delayed but eventually they were told he didn't after all have PWS. However the dr's were unable to say what was wrong with him, which in some ways they felt was worse as they had no idea what they were dealing with. I've lost touch with the family now, unfortunately, as I'd love to know how he was getting on.

[Yurtgirl]

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[RTKangaMummy]

That is what I thought about Chris helpers

felt they should have been told more about it before helping him

[Yurtgirl]

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