Here comes the desi Hulk

Pesticide poisoning?

Interestingly, in Meena's case, doctors suspect Acromegaly could have been caused by slow food poisoning.

"These cases are very common in rural India where pesticide poisoning is rampant," said Dr Baldeep Khurana, a general physician.

Meena's palm vs a regular one

"The doctor in Alwar had said I could have been poisoned by pesticides in the vegetables I used to eat," said Meena. If experts are to be believed, pesticide levels are threateningly high in the ground water in villages of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. "Excessive use of pesticides in farming is creating health problems in these villages. These chemicals seep into human bodies through food and drinking water and can cause many complications, including Gigantism. The local administration should take care of this," said a scientist working with the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, wishing anonymity.u00a0

However, today, after a successful surgery, Meena is leading a normal life. "My size hasn't decreased but at least my anger has. I am a gentle giant now," said Meena with a smile.

Diet busting
Before the surgery, Meena used to have eight to nine rotis for every meal and he would have five meals a day.u00a0
What causes Acromegaly?
Acromegaly is caused by the uncontrolled hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary, a tiny gland about the size of a pea - located just below the brain, behind our eyes. The pituitary controls normal growth, metabolism, and reproductive activity. In most cases, the cause of this excessive production of GH is a noncancerous tumor on the pituitary.

Here comes the giant
"My face became broad and my nose became a bulbous appendage. Even my close friends who hadn't met me for a few months had trouble recognizing me," said Meena, adding he had become a scary figure in his village Bagar Ka Baas in Alwar, Rajasthan.

"A man who had borrowed Rs 1 lakh from my brother and was refusing to return the money for six months, paid up just a week after I visited his house. Mothers used to warn their children saying, 'baat mano warna uncle pitenge. (Obey me or I will ask uncle to beat you up),'" said Meena. Even a slight slap made adults fall unconscious.

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