Does weight loss help mitigate this horrible disorder?

January 22, 2017 Ashley 0 Comments

What comes to your mind when you see this?

For me, my inner science nerd was disturbed.

Obviously this isn’t your traditional ballerina. We’re accustomed to seeing svelte bodied dancers. So, naturally, I wondered: why? Why might a 15 year old girl, slaying her way through a seven part pirouette (and still being segregated from her slender neighbors for whatever dumb reason) have such a weight issue at such a young age? I don’t care about the aesthetic aspect. I don’t care about the beauty standards. I’m not asking because of probing cruelty or judgment. I legitimately wanted to know how it’s possible. (Because you don’t get that good by sitting on the thing your tutu covers.) And when I read that Lizzy Howell (that’s her name) suffers from a condition called pseudotumor cerebri – where excess pressure exists around the brain, that only led to more questions. Does it cause weight gain? Is this one of those cases where a condition you can’t help – makes you gain weight from seemingly out’ve nowhere?

(I mean, I’ve heard of this disease making you too tired to even move. But that’s obviously not the case here.
This chick’s inspirationally dedicated and active AF.)

So, I Googled.

And, while I couldn’t find a link between weight gain as a result of this condition, you know what I did find?

Evidence for the exact reverse.

In other words, those who are obese, are at a higher risk for this condition. Now, whether Lizzy was overweight prior to acquiring PTC, I dunno. Maybe. But, what I do know, is that in many of these studies done – something magical happened for those who lost weight while suffering from it. After a year of losing weight, patients’ nerve and vertigo type issues (which accompany the condition) significantly alleviated. Headaches. Tinnitus. You name it. All following the significant weight loss they’d undergone. Can we show that that proves anything? Maybe not. But the fact that those who regained weight had the symptoms resume, does provide some stronger evidence. Per NCBI:

“Of the 19 patients not lost to follow-up, 2 regained weight, with recurrence of headache and pulsatile tinnitus.”

Granted, the study was done only on those who’d undergone bariatric surgery – versus subjects simply scaling down on meals and up on activity. (That study would have A.) taken longer, and B.) not been funded by the bariatric people who made that infographic above – ’cause they can’t make money off you not needing them.) However, that doesn’t mean Lizzy or anyone else suffering this disease has to have a stomach stapling to yield these results. All it means is that you have to lose weight. And, while the lab rats above did that via surgery, there’s zero reason to believe that getting serious about the best diet and exercise regimen isn’t just as beneficial.

And I have faith that Lizzy can do exactly that (with the help of good parents who care about her – which I’m sure she has.) After all, some of the worst symptoms of PTC include blurry vision and dizziness. And, if she can overcome all’ve that to do that badazz, balanced ballerina spin I just watch, slack jawed… then homegirl can do just about anything in her whirling world to which she puts her bun covered brain. And, once again (for the comprehension impaired who like to argue irrelevant points I’m not making), this isn’t about beauty. It’s not about shaming. It’s not about anything other than weight loss for the sake of health ‘n well being.

In the meantime, keep doing what you do, Lizzy.

And don’t stop fighting ’til they raise their wooden bar for the likes of you – at any size.

’cause them moves are on pointe.