78854-18TODDLER Nathan Rogers stares longingly at his family's well-stocked fridge. Most children crave chocolate and other sickly goodies but this three-year-old suffers from a rare eating disorder called Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Around one in 15,000 people are born with the condition.

Doting dad Graeme, 27, says that his son would literally eat himself to death unless he and his wife, Rebecca, 28, stuck to a strict diet plan.

Nathan, from Walcot, was five weeks old when he was diagnosed.

Mr Rogers, a former supervisor at a Swindon garage, quit his job to stay at home while his wife, a carer, went out to work part-time.

Following a recent BBC documentary called Not My Fault I'm Fat, the father-of-three believes that publicity is the key to preventing sufferers being branded as social misfits.

"We get strange looks when we go to the supermarket," he said. "Once, Nathan picked up a block of lard and started eating it but he can't help it."

Nathan, who has slight learning difficulties, weighs three stones. His five-year-old sister Lauren is just two-and-a-half stones while brother Steven, seven, is four stones.

In spite of that, Mr Rogers believes that many people fail to recognise the seriousness of the condition.

"If we allowed Nathan to eat what he liked he could kill himself," he said matter-of-factly.

"Friends and family have been absolutely brilliant but some people think that a chocolate bar would not affect him. But one bar would quickly become two and so on."

The close-knit family saw the tell-tale signs of the genetic condition early-on.

He said: "He was born with almond-shaped eyes and was very floppy classic symptoms of Prader-Willi Syndrome.

"Now he has a weak heart as a result of the excess strain constantly being put on it. He may have to have an operation at some point.

"Rebecca and I are very careful about making sure that he has no more than 800 calories a day, but it's difficult.

"We make sure that he snacks on low-fat foods such as carrots and other vegetables."

Last July Nathan, who sometimes needs a wheelchair to get around, took his first steps. This created additional problems.

Mr Rogers said: "Before he learned to walk he couldn't really get to cupboards.

"We have found that diversionary tactics like taking him out for a five-minute walk around the block works.

"Although he tests our patience he has so much love to give. He's one in a million."

No known cure for the disease

PRADER-WILLI Syndrome is a genetic problem caused by a defect in chromosome 15.

It gets its name from the doctors who first described it in 1956 doctors Prader, Labhart, and Willi).

Excessive weight gain is a common symptom and usually happens early in childhood, between two and five years.

Often the child constantly craves food and chain eats.

Adding to the problem, sufferers' metabolism is only about 60 per cent of normal, so they need fewer calories than other children.

Other symptoms include:

Babies can be floppy a result of poor muscle tone

Leaning difficulties - many people with the condition have IQs of around 70

Poor movement delaying milestones like walking, riding a bike etc

Growth problems sufferers rarely grow beyond 5ft. Many have small hands and feet and typically a narrow forehead

Increased pain tolerance scratching and picking.

AT present there is no known cure, but high quality of life can be achieved by learning to adapt.

Behavioural problems in the form of tantrums can drive parents to despair but with the right support mechanisms behind them the condition can be controlled to a degree.

Children need a strictly controlled diet and routine to go with it.

ANYONE wanting further information can call the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (UK) on 01332 365676.