TITLE:
Individuals with hyperphagia can voluntarily fast: Experience from Prader-Willi Syndrome
AUTHORS:
Fortu Benarroch, Yehuda Pollak, Maayan Wertman, Harry J. Hirsch, Larry Genstil, Varda Gross-Tsur
KEYWORDS:
Prader-Willi Syndrome; Fast; Obesity; Eating Control; Motivation
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.4 No.12A,
December
31,
2012
ABSTRACT: Relentless pursuit of
food is a major characteristic of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). We observed
voluntary fasting among PWS individuals during a religious fast. Understanding
the mechanisms involved in successful fasting could be an important
contribution in developing more effective treatment of this syndrome. We conducted
a prospective study to assess whether genotype, motivational attitudes (e.g.
religiosity) and control patterns (e.g. different eating habits) would
correlate with ability to fast. Among all individuals with PWS in Israel, 32
met inclusion criteria. Prior to the fast, each participant and
parents/caregivers were interviewed for demographic, medical and behavioral
data and completed questionnaires assessing
motivational and control factors. 22 participants completed the fast.
This ability was not accounted for by religiosity, demographic, medical
variables or genetic subtype. This
prospective study documents that in spite of extreme hyperphagia, adolescents and adults with PWS can voluntarily abstain from food for 25 hours; our
findings suggest that they are able to activate mechanisms which improve
their control of eating for a longer period than expected. The observation
that the degree of religiosity did not impact on the ability to fast suggests
that these mechanisms may be applicable to a wider range of circumstances and
populations. The ability for self-control under special circumstances deserves
further study; it may be relevant to other types of severe obesity and possibly
lead to improved methods of behavioral modification.