At 66 cm tall, Wang Junming is only marginally larger than newborn babies, who, on average, range from 48-50 cm. Wang’s height is typical for a child between 5 and 6 months old, but for a 25-year-old man? Not so much.
Wang went viral after his 21-year-old sister Xiaoling shared their daily life online, building an audience of 163,000 followers practically overnight. After seeing her content, concerned individuals contacted a hospital, leading to Wang being diagnosed in February with pituitary hormone deficiency.
Endocrinologist Deng Chao of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Changsha, China, diagnosed Wang. He found that Wang has an abnormal POU1F1 gene, which plays a key role in development. It’s an exceptionally rare condition; according to a 2021 study cited by Deng, there are only 114 known cases worldwide.
Most patients are diagnosed between six months and three years old, and with treatment, many can develop normally in height and cognitive ability. At age 25, Wang is reportedly functioning, cognitively, at the level of a baby In the past, he was taken to a hospital, where medication was prescribed, but, due to financial hardship—his father earns about 3,000 yuan (about $450 USD) per month from bricklaying—the family was unable to continue treatment.
During his childhood, Wang’s mother was diagnosed with cancer–which she survived–and that changed Xiaoling’s involvement in his life. She took on the role of her brother’s caretaker and continues to be heavily involved, choosing to remain in Changsha after graduating from nursing school. She now works at a local beauty clinic but plans to run a noodle stall and do livestreams to earn money for Wang’s treatment.
Wang is currently receiving regular hormone therapy, though his doctor has noted that outcomes remain uncertain. While there is hope he may gain mobility and improved cognitive function, it is unclear whether his bones will be able to support significant growth. He has shown small improvements in awareness and interaction, such as recognizing his sister and pointing to hidden objects, such as her phone.
Though Xiaoling once imagined that her descendants would care for Wang, thinking he would live thousands of years, doctors have stated that Wang’s condition does not impact his natural life expectancy.