Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
People with Laron syndrome rarely grow beyond 1.2m due to a genetic mutation that limits the body’s growth.
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Globally, only 840 people are known to have the condition - most of whom live in southern Ecuador. Living with Laron syndrome can be challenging, but this small community has attracted the attention of researchers due to one unexpected advantage - a lower incidence of cancer and diabetes. Doctors suggest their unique genetic makeup could provide clues on how to prevent and treat age-related illnesses in the wider population.
00:00 Living with Laron Syndrome in Ecuador
00:55 Meet twins Maria Luisa and Maria del Swan Romero
01:27 What is Laron syndrome, explained by the Romero twins
03:31 Meet Luis Antonio Sánchez
5:20 What causes Laron syndrome: the medical explanation
6:18 The paradox of Laron syndrome: less cancer and diabetes
07:14 What the treatment is like
07:40 Prejudices and challenges: testimonies of what it is like to live with the disease
08:21 Meet Paola Boada
10:30 Access to treatment for children and adolescents: the case of Sara Espinoza
12:50 Dealing with the diagnosis: Meet Camila and her family
Find more of the best BBC World Service documentaries you can watch in less than 30 minutes here ➡️ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4cI2qSy69-3UkgBWaXGHRrx
Video production: Jorge Pérez Valery
General production: Alejandro Millán
Animations and maps: Daniel Arce and Gonzalo Cañada
Global Journalism producer: Rebecca Thorn
Editors: Nathalia Passarinho and Carlos Serrano
Executive producer: Natalia Pianzola
Executive directors: Carolina Robino and Daniel García Marco
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People with Laron syndrome rarely grow beyond 1.2m due to a genetic mutation that limits the body’s growth.
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
Globally, only 840 people are known to have the condition - most of whom live in southern Ecuador. Living with Laron syndrome can be challenging, but this small community has attracted the attention of researchers due to one unexpected advantage - a lower incidence of cancer and diabetes. Doctors suggest their unique genetic makeup could provide clues on how to prevent and treat age-related illnesses in the wider population.
00:00 Living with Laron Syndrome in Ecuador
00:55 Meet twins Maria Luisa and Maria del Swan Romero
01:27 What is Laron syndrome, explained by the Romero twins
03:31 Meet Luis Antonio Sánchez
5:20 What causes Laron syndrome: the medical explanation
6:18 The paradox of Laron syndrome: less cancer and diabetes
07:14 What the treatment is like
07:40 Prejudices and challenges: testimonies of what it is like to live with the disease
08:21 Meet Paola Boada
10:30 Access to treatment for children and adolescents: the case of Sara Espinoza
12:50 Dealing with the diagnosis: Meet Camila and her family
Find more of the best BBC World Service documentaries you can watch in less than 30 minutes here ➡️ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4cI2qSy69-3UkgBWaXGHRrx
Video production: Jorge Pérez Valery
General production: Alejandro Millán
Animations and maps: Daniel Arce and Gonzalo Cañada
Global Journalism producer: Rebecca Thorn
Editors: Nathalia Passarinho and Carlos Serrano
Executive producer: Natalia Pianzola
Executive directors: Carolina Robino and Daniel García Marco
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 instagram.com/bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 twitter.com/bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 facebook.com/bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #laronsyndrome #ecuador
