Citlalli grabs the lock installed on the refrigerator at her home in Mexico City, Mexico on July 18, 2017. Because of her condition, her mother keeps the refrigerator and kitchen under lock and key. Many people with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) frequently engage in severe skin-picking behavior, often causing open wounds and sores such as those seen on Citlalli's elbow, which can become infected.?Delia Citlalli Pineda Corzo, a 21-year-old Mexican girl, lives with her 42-year-old mother Diana Cristina Corzo Z?rate in a two-room apartment in Mexico City. She was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome at age four. At age 15, doctors detected that she had diabetes. Citlalli weighs 106 kilos (233.6 pounds) and stands 150 centimeters (4 feet 11 inches). She has a BMI of 50.5, making her morbidly obese. She also suffers from sleep apnea. Citlalli lacks the faculty of speech and cannot read, but her mother says they have developed their own form of communication. Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by an abnormality in chromosome 15. In?newborns?symptoms include?weak muscle tone (hypotonia), poor appetite and slow development. In childhood the person experiences a sensation of constant hunger no matter how much he/she eats which often leads to?obesity?and?Type 2 diabetes. There may also be mild to moderate?intellectual impairment?and behavioral problems. Physical characteristics include a narrow forehead, small hands and feet, short in stature, and light skin color. Prader-Willi syndrome has no known cure. However, with early diagnosis and treatment such as growth hormone therapy, the condition may improve. Strict food supervision is typically required. PWS?affects an estimated 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 people worldwide. (Photo by Benedicte Desrus/Sipa USA)
