 The theory that Henry suffered from syphilis has been dismissed by most historians . A more recent theory suggests that Henry 's medical symptoms are characteristic of untreated type 2 diabetes . Alternatively , his wives ' pattern of pregnancies and his mental deterioration have led some to suggest that the king may have been Kell positive and suffered from McLeod syndrome . According to another study , Henry VIII 's history and body morphology may have been the result of traumatic brain injury after his 1536 jousting accident , which in turn led to a neuroendocrine cause of his obesity . This analysis identifies growth hormone deficiency ( GHD ) as the source for his increased <unk> but also significant behavioural changes noted in his later years , including his multiple marriages . 
