Nguyen Hoang Nam is only 10 years old. However, when you look at him, one may be surprised by his appearance.
According to the Daily Mail, Nam—who is from Vietnam—has a condition that causes muscle overgrowth which makes him look like he has the body of an adult bodybuilder. And while he may look different than his friends, Nam likes to show off his muscles.
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In fact, as his father revealed, Nam has always been interested in bodybuilding. “When he saw me training, he often imitated me,” he said of his 10-year-old son. “When he was younger, most kids borrowed phones to play games, but he borrowed mine to watch bodybuilders.”
The condition Nam has been diagnosed with is called Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy. However, as the Daily Mail reported, the Vietnamese media is calling the “superman syndrome.”
10-Year-Old Has ‘Superhero’ Condition That Makes Him Very Muscular
According to MedlinePlus, “Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy is a rare condition characterized by reduced body fat and increased muscle size.” Interestingly, the extra muscle mass is also accompanied by muscle strength as well. In fact, he can already beat his father in an arm-wrestling match.
“Affected individuals have up to twice the usual amount of muscle mass in their bodies. They also tend to have increased muscle strength,” MedlinePlus continued. “Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy is not known to cause any medical problems, and affected individuals are intellectually normal.”
What causes Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy is unknown. However, while the condition does affect overall health, his parents say it could affect his flexibility if his muscles get too stiff. In an effort to combat that possibility, his parents have enrolled him in martial arts, as well as yoga.
And as Nam admitted his dream is to one day become a professional bodybuilder. “My dream is to become a bodybuilder in the future because I saw the bodybuilders on YouTube, and they looked really nice and professional. I admire them a lot.”
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Yet, despite his unique build and strength, his father says Nam has always been a very gentle child. “Since he was born, he’s always been really gentle,” the dad said and someone who “gets on well with his friends.” How cool is it that Nam’s unique characteristics have become his passion?