Her gigantism is said to be due to a tumor in her pituitary gland. She was six feet nine inches tall by the age of fifteen years. Due to her condition, Defen has undergone series of surgeries. Yao currently suffers from hypertension, heart disease, poor nutrition, and osteoporosis.
Acromegaly often results from a tumor within the pituitary gland that causes excess growth hormone secretion. As a result, the body’s features become enlarged. It can also delay the onset of puberty as is the case with Yao. She has no secondary sexual characteristics. Potential complication lacking surgery includes blindness and eventually premature death. She lives near her mother (who is only four feet, eight inches tall) in a small village in rural China.
