Prader-Willi syndrome is characterized by feeding difficulties in early infancy, followed in later infancy by
excessive eating and gradual development of
morbid obesity, unless externally controlled. All patients have some degree of
cognitive impairment.
Hypogonadism is present in both males and females. Short stature is common.PWS is associated with an abnormality of
chromosome 15, it is generally considered not to be an inherited condition, but rather a spontaneous genetic
birth defect that occurs at or near the time of conception.
People with PWS have a flaw in the part of their brain (the hypothalamus) that determines
hunger and
satiety (fullness). These people never feel full enough, so they have a continuous urge to eat. To compound this problem, people with PWS need considerably fewer
calories than normal to maintain an appropriate weight. The obesity that results is the major cause of illness and death in this disorder. As in the general population, obesity in PWS can cause high blood pressure, respiratory difficulties, diabetes and other problems.