Girl Must Eat Every 15 Minutes: Lizzie Velasquez Stays Skeletal Despite Nonstop Eating (PICTURES)

(CBS) For many people, the idea of eating whatever you want without gaining weight sounds like a dream. But it's a life long battle for Lizzie Velasquez, a skeletally thin 21-year-old from Austin, Texas who is unable to put on weight even though she consumes 5,000 to 8,000 calories a day, according to the English paper the Telegraph.

PICTURES: Lizzie Velasquez Must Eat Every 15 Minutes

"I weigh myself regularly and if I gain even one pound I get really excited," Valasquez told the Telegraph, which pegs her weight at 56 pounds.

She eats every 15-20 minutes, downing everything from chocolate, pizza, doughnuts, and ice cream, according to the Telegraph. But the 5 foot 2-inch Texan still wears size triple zero clothes - and gets "pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic."

Doctors think Velasquez has neonatal progeroid syndrome, a rare condition that causes fat loss in the face and body and accelerated aging, according to the Telegraph. People with the disorder tend to have triangular faces with a beak-shaped nose, prominent veins and sparse scalp hair, according to the website of University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

"I am aware of a small number of people that have similar conditions to Lizzie but each case is slightly different," Abihimanya Garg, MD, a progeroid expert at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School told the Telegraph. "We cannot predict what will happen to Lizzie in the future as the medical community are yet to document older people with NPS.

Velasquez was born premature, weighing only 2 pounds, 10 ounces, she wrote on her website.

"I was actually so small that my baby clothes were actually doll clothes from Toys 'R' Us because that's all that would fit me! "

Velasquez is blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other. But she didn't let those problems or the others associated with her condition stop her from being a cheerleader or going to college. And she remains upbeat despite her difficulties and her uncertain prognosis.

"People have asked me if I had a miracle or a chance to change the way I look, I honestly know I would never do that," she wrote. "God made me the way I am for a reason and I would never change that.  I lead a normal life as much as possible and deal with the bumps in the road as they come along with my head held high and a smile on my face!

If that sounds a bit like a motivational speaker, it's because that's what Velasquez hopes to become. She's already on her way.

PICTURES: Lizzie Velasquez Must Eat Every 15 Minutes

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[DigoPogo]

I just love this young lady, she is so personable and endearing! I wish her nothing but love and happiness her whole life through.

[odgnj5]

I suck at tact but here it is. Everyone has a right to be happy especially those dealt a bad hand. As a person, I'm glad/hope your really happy.

As a motivational speaker, I have a hard time believing you wouldn't change anything. And if you really wouldn't change anything then I'd probably just call you crazy and not listen you. The people who ask that question are just cruel and ignorant. Although, I'm not sure this is any better.

From audio lectures, pretending seems to be a factor in ones capability of being happy and motivated. It's just not in my nature to pretend. As a person who's terribly unmotivated, I want you to motivate me without pretending so I hope that helped in some way.

[erasmus111]

"Girl must eat every 15 minutes"

I am curious as to whether she has to eat through the night too?

[tmonta67]

You go girl!

[Egads_No]

How much food you eat means almost nothing in terms of weight alone. There is a reason why serious athletes often consume 50k calories a day, nearly 15 years ago I was one of them and only weighted 165lbs. I hardly exercise anymore so I eat around 3.5kcal a day and stay right at 155.

[joe847]

ORDER LIZZIE'S BOOK NOW
Lizzie Beautiful: The Lizzie Velasquez Story is now
available on amazon.com

Lizzie shares intimate details about her struggles of living in a society that places great emphasis on outer appearance. Also, read never-before-seen journal entries Lizzie's mother wrote to Lizzie as a child. Lizzie gives you reasons to find hope and faith that can be infused into everything you do, so that you too - can achieve your dreams.

[4merGOPr]

You should inspire all the deadbeats who are on the dole, staying at home, watching tv, and having children when they are pefectly able to work. You are worth more then a thousand of those people (and I use the word people because I can't come up with another denegrating word).

[rightbehind]

I have no doubt that it is exactly as she said that, "God made her that way for a reason". My guess she carries a message that gives us subtle clues about ourselves. She is not alone. Many other discoveries are under way because of similar circumstances. She is a messenger and has a story to tell in more ways than many of us can imagine. Thanks CBS for bringing us this one.

[4merGOPr]

You should inspire all the deadbeats who are on the dole, staying at home, watching tv, and having children when they are pefectly able to work. You are worth more then a thousand of those people (and I use the word people because I can't come up with another denegrating word).

[rightbehind]

I have no doubt that it is exactly as she said that, "God made her that way for a reason". My guess she carries a message that gives us subtle clues about ourselves. She is not alone. Many other discoveries are under way because of similar circumstances. She is a messenger and has a story to tell in more ways than many of us can imagine. Thanks CBS for bringing us this one.