10-month-old Mexican boy who is constantly hungry weighs 4st 10lbs - the same as a healthy 9-year-old

A Mexican baby boy weighs the same as a nine-year-old because he is constantly hungry.

Luis Manuel, 10 months, from Tecoman in the western Mexican state of Colima, tips the scales at a mammoth 4st 10lbs (30kg).

When he was just a month old he had to be dressed in clothes big enough for two year olds, because his waistline expanded 'so fast'. 

Concerned medics fear the youngster has Prader-Willi syndrome  - an incurable disorder that can trigger heart attacks in children.

The rare genetic condition causes problems including constant urges to eat food, restricted growth and reduced muscle tone.

His poverty-stricken family have launched a fundraising appeal so they can afford medical treatment for their son if the diagnosis is confirmed.

It's believed Luis could be the world's fattest baby, however, there are no records to confirm the suspicions.  

Potential treatment 

Treatment would consist of a series of hormone injections, with each one reportedly costing £404 (10,000 MXN/$530).

Luis weighed a healthy 7lbs 11oz (3.5kg) at birth, but rapidly began to put on weight, his mother Isabel Pantoja revealed.

Rapid growth 

She said: 'After only one month we noticed that clothes did not fit him and we had to dress him in clothes for a one-year-old, and even a two-year-old.

'We saw our baby gain weight so fast. Sometimes, he could not sleep because he felt like he was suffocating due to his weight.'

Doctors say Luis Manuel is currently the normal weight for a nine-year-old boy even though he is still two months short of his first birthday.

Seeking diagnosis 

He has undergone a series of tests and, although it has not yet been confirmed, doctors believe he might suffer from Prader-Willi syndrome.

The genetic disorder is due to a loss of function of specific genes which causes sufferers to feel constantly hungry, often leading to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Doctors believe Luis would be the first ever recorded case of the condition in the city, according to local reports. 

Concerned parents 

Mario Gonzalez, the boy's father, is concerned about the potential health implications for his son.

He said: 'In some cases, kids have died because of a heart attack due to being so overweight. All help given for him, small or big, is good for him.'

The family have opened a bank account to enable well-wishers to donate towards his care and people can also contact Isabel on social media.

Mr Gonzalez said the appeal would keep a proper record so people could see their money was being spent on Luis' treatment. 

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