Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at OPM.gov.

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)

PWS is the most common of the genetic disorders that cause life-threatening obesity in children. The syndrome affects many aspects of the person's life, including eating, behavior and mood, physical growth, and intellectual development.

NICHD is one of many federal agencies and NIH Institutes working to understand PWS. NICHD supports and conducts research on the factors that cause the syndrome and how best to diagnose and treat it.