Prader-Willi Syndrome and a Potential Weight Loss Supplement

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder caused by a lack of the 11q-13q segment of the paternal chromosome 15. Although the cause of the lack of genetic information varies, the result is an extreme increase in appetite, hypogonadism, mental retardation, and behavioral problems. Often, the most prominent obstacle the individual with PWS faces is managing the excessive weight gain that comes with having constant, ravenous hunger. Since there currently is no cure, managing the symptoms is the focus for most doctors. If the issue of excessive weight gain can be mollified, then the disorder would become more manageable. Therefore, I am proposing a hypothetical research project that examines the effects of capsaicin, a potential weight loss supplement, on individuals with PWS. Since the experiment is hypothetical, a guideline for this potential project is explored, along with rubrics for interpreting possible results. Several potential data sets have been prepared, and are accompanied by an interpretation of what these results could mean for PWS patients in the future.