“Around age 10, Troy lost the fat all over his body and his stomach stuck way out. He was hungry all the time. ”
In people with GL, having little to no fat tissue can affect the way they look. But there is more to not having fat than meets the eye. Our bodies also need fat tissue because it makes hormones. One of these hormones is called leptin, and it plays a very important role in the body.
Leptin is important because it helps control metabolic processes in the body. Some of these processes are
- helping to control how the body manages fat.
- helping the body respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps manage levels of sugar in the blood.
You may hear congenital GL referred to as Berardinelli-Seip syndrome and acquired GL referred to as Lawrence syndrome.
The table below outlines some differences between the 2 types. Regardless of type, everyone with GL has little to no fat all over their bodies, and little to no leptin.
What makes GL even more complex is that there are differences within each type. There are at least 4 genes with mutations that cause congenital GL. Acquired GL is often associated with autoimmune disease. The cause and signs/symptoms of GL can be different in every person living with it.
