When Zoya was born in December 2010, she weighed a normal 3kg. However, within 11 months, her weight had shot up to 19kg, leaving everyone bewildered. She was found to be suffering from morbid obesity caused by a genetic disorder passed on to her by her parents – Yusuf, 29, and Tajkhatul, 28, who are first cousins.
At 4, Zoya Khan is taking baby steps, literally, thanks to obesity. The adorable child, who lives in a Bandra slum with her parents, weighs 21kg. What is unusual about is that the girl has not lost any weight in the past three years despite undergoing sleeve gastrectomy – a weight-loss surgery – at 1.
Bariatric surgeon Dr Sanjay Borude, who is treating Zoya, says this is a unique case. The doctor plans to conduct a leptin gene (responsible for obesity) study on her once she turns five and present the findings at International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).
When Zoya was born in December 2010, she weighed a normal 3kg. However, within 11 months, her weight had shot up to 19kg, leaving everyone bewildered. She was found to be suffering from morbid obesity caused by a genetic disorder passed on to her by her parents – Yusuf, 29, and Tajkhatul, 28, who are first cousins.
Health experts say offsprings born out of close-blood couples, such as of first cousins, have higher showing genetic disorders. And this seems to the case with the Khan family as the couple lost a child to similar complications six years ago.
Zoya's weight had ballooned to 7kg a mere two days after her birth. While family and friends thought she was just a hungry baby who needed to be breastfed seven to eight times a day, Yusuf and Tajkhatul were not convinced. She underwent the weight-loss surgery at Breach Candy Hospital.
"This is the first time I've come across such a case where a patient has not lost weight despite sleeve gastrectomy. Before the surgery, tests over 10 months revealed that monogenic genetic disorders occur as a direct consequence of a single gene being defective. We will once again conduct a leptin gene test to know her hormonal status. The case will be presented in an international forum," said Dr Borude.
The doctor said despite increase in height, the child's weight hasn't reduced. "We have succeeded in restricting the weight from increasing. Once she starts walking, her weight will come down."
"Her weight is always between 20kg and 21kg. I just pray to God that my daughter should lead a normal life," said Yusuf earns around Rs70-100 a day by selling toys.
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