Jobs: I Have Hormonal Imbalance

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Monday doctors say he has an easily-treated hormonal imbalance, according to a statement designed to quiet rumors of his increasingly gaunt public appearances.

“A hormone imbalance…has been robbing me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy,” the Apple leader wrote in a letter released.

The diagnosis follows “sophisticated blood tests,” Jobs said.

Apple has been under pressure to clear up rumors surrounding Jobs’ health. Shares of the Cupertino, Calif.-based company fell briefly after an online report suggested Jobs bypassed this week’s Macworld Expo 2009 because of health problems. Jobs was previously treated for pancreatic cancer.

“The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment,” Jobs said.

Jobs said he will stay on as Apple CEO until the “relatively simple” treatment is complete. He said doctors expect it will be late Spring before he regains the lost weight.

In a statement, Apple board of directors said Jobs has their “complete and unwavering support” while he recuperates.

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