Lizzie Velasquez, Born Without Adipose Tissue: 'Maybe You Should Stop Staring And Start Learning'

'Maybe You Should Stop Staring And Start Learning'
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Twenty-three-year-old Lizzie Velasquez was born without any adipose tissue -- meaning she has no fat on her body.

As a result, she weighs just 58 pounds, even though she eats as many as 60 times a day, the Daily Mail reported. she has been the subject of cyberbullying and stares when she walks out in public, she recently revealed to Dr. Drew Pinsky on HLN.

Some cyberbullies even dubbed her the "ugliest woman in the world," because of her appearance due to her medical condition, she said.

"It's not easy, I will be the first to tell you it's not easy," Velasquez told Dr. Drew. "I may have this outer exterior of people saying, 'She can handle everything, she's dealt with this for so long,' and to be honest, I'm human and of course these things are going to hurt."

Back in 2010, The Telegraph reported that Velasquez consumes 5,000 to 8,000 calories a day -- eating food every 15 minutes. But because of the condition, the Texas State University in San Marcos student has never weighed much more than 60 pounds, she wrote in the description of her book that came out earlier this year, titled "Be Beautiful, Be You."

Velasquez's condition is extremely rare; she is just one of three people in the entire world to have it, she noted in her book description.

The Telegraph reported that doctors believe she may have something called Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome. It is a condition that leads to premature aging, but is different from the more common aging disorder, progeria, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is characterized by wrinkled skin, not much fat, a large head, a face that looks aged and visible veins in the scalp.

"I think the biggest things I have to deal with is constantly people staring at me as soon as I walk into a room," Velasquez told Dr. Drew. "Recently, it's been a lot of adults I've been having to deal with who will slowly walk in front of me and turn their heads, and look me up and down. So the stares are what I'm really dealing with in public right now."

But "instead of just sitting by and watching these people judge me, I'm starting to want to go up to these people and introduce myself, or give them my card, and say, 'Maybe you should stop staring and start learning.'"

Lizzie Velasquez, Woman Born Without Adipose Tissue
Lizzie Velasquez, Woman Born Without Adipose Tissue(01 of04)
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A four-stone woman who cannot gain weight has released a tell-all book describing her mysterious medical condition and how she copes with daily stares and insults. Lizzie Velásquez, 21, eats up to 25,000 calories per day but has never weighed more than 4.6 stone. A student at Texas State University in San Marcos, Lizzie constantly snacks on junk food but remains skeletal in appearance. Her book, Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velasquez Story is co written by Lizzie, her mother Rita and Cynthia Lee and Lina Cuartas. (credit:Barcroft / FameFlynet)
Lizzie Velasquez, Woman Born Without Adipose Tissue(02 of04)
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The Velasquez Family from Left to Right: Mum Rita, Chris 12, Lizzie 21, Marima 15, and Dad Lupe on May 27, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (credit:Barcroft / FameFlynet)
Lizzie Velasquez, Woman Born Without Adipose Tissue(03 of04)
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Lizzie Velasquez pictured surrounded by food on May 27, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (credit:Barcroft / FameFlynet)
Lizzie Velasquez, Woman Born Without Adipose Tissue(04 of04)
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Family picture of Lizzie aged 2. (credit:Barcroft / FameFlynet)

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