Steve Jobs reveals health problems: mild hormone imbalance

With the Macworld keynote only 24 hours away, Apple has published an open letter from Steve Jobs to the Apple community relaying that he's been working with physicians to figure out why he's been losing weight over the past year.  Apple's board also issued a statement in support of the CEO.

They believe they've found the problem that lies in a hormone imbalance which is easily treatable.  The letter said that treatment should be straightforward and Jobs should see results by Spring.

The letter alludes to the fact that Jobs chose to figure out the weight problem rather than spend December preparing for Macworld's presentation.  The illness they've found, however, isn't life threatening.

The news has been mildly positive for Apple's stock as it is up 3.5 points by noon.

The letter in its entirety is pasted below for reference.

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

More from Greg Keizer at Computerworld.