Parents Fear Their 5-Year-Old Obese Son Could Die At Any Time

The parents of a 5-year-old obese boy who weighs more than 12 stones (nearly 80kg) fear he could die any time by suffocating on his own fat.

According to reports, Misael Abreu (5) from Espirito Santo, Brazil, has an insatiable appetite and is said to be three times the size of his friends. Misael was born a healthy baby but started piling on the pounds as he grew.

Doctors think he has rare Prader-Willi Syndrome, which makes him constantly hungry and crave for food, Barcroft Media reported.

Misael’s dad, Manoel, 38, said, ”He is a baby carrying an adult’s weight. His heart must be under a lot of pressure.”

His mum, Josiane de Jesus Caldogno, 37, said, ”He has been putting on a lot of weight since he was a baby – even when I was breastfeeding him, it was more than expected. But it was only when he was one and a half years old that we began to worry. He was gaining 3kg (6.6lb) a month and was starting getting very heavy.”

His parents said Misael often stops breathing in his sleep and they are scared of losing at any time.

Misael is said to be gaining almost 4lb per month despite being placed on a low- fat diet and walking 40 minutes per day.

He visits a doctor every 3 months in a bid to control his condition but there is no cure.

Paediatric Neurologist, Lucio Coelho Miranda, who treats the overweight boy said, ”Every appointment we have had, he has put on a lot of weight – sometimes up to 5 kg (11lb).

He added, ”I think Misael could get help from someone outside of Brazil – both medically and financially – so he can get the laboratory and genetic testing he needs.”