The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Obesity: What You Need to Know

Share:

According to research studies, having obesity increases the risk of developing breathing problems like obesity hypoventilation syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and asthma. The research did reveal that 10% to 30% of people were suffering from sleep-related breathing disorders. Experts estimate that by 2030, half of the adults in Australia will be obese.

Learning the relationship between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea will help you understand obesity risks. It will also enable you to understand the benefits of treating obesity and when to consult your doctor about your sleep quality and nighttime breathing.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition with a partial blockage in the airway. Breathing can sometimes stop for spans not exceeding 10 seconds at night. Common symptoms include: 

  •  Waking up at night
  • Exhaustion during the day
  • Gasping for air while sleeping
  • Snoring

There are two types of sleep apnea. There is central sleep apnea. It is the less common type due to faulty signals from the brain. Its cause can be opioid use, complications from an illness, or other neurological factors.

The second and most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When sleeping, your neck muscles relax. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the tissues in the airway can collapse or fold, blocking the air passage.

There are cases when a patient can experience both central and obstructive sleep apnea concurrently. Such a situation is referred to as complex or mixed sleep apnea. Doctors are still unaware of its cause as it occurs differently in patients.

The periods of sleep apnea and hypopnea will repeat throughout the night. Sleep apnea together with snoring and fatigue, will contribute to the development of other health conditions. Other common health conditions are high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

 

Can Sleep Apnea Lead to Weight Gain?

Yes, sleep apnea can cause weight gain. Weight gain and sleep apnea are inextricably linked. Just as the prevalence of sleep apnea is doubled in men, the chances of overweight men contracting sleep apnea are up to five times higher than those in overweight women. 

Individuals who add more than 10% if their total weight have up to a six-fold risk of their sleep apnea progressing to severe forms.

One of the reasons is that fat deposits in the tissues surrounding the airway start narrowing the small passage. The deposits of fat around the thorax lead to breathing challenges.

Having a full night’s rest will help regulate ghrelin and leptin hormones. Interrupted and poor night sleep will contribute to obesity. The levels of leptin to sleep apnea are worse in obese patients compared to patients whose sleep apnea has other root causes. Adiponectin is a substance that occurs naturally in the body and helps improve glucose metabolism. It is shallow in obese patients, and also in those with sleep apnea.

 

Sleep Apnea and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a breathing disorder capable of affecting people with obesity. It is common in people with a BMI higher than 50. According to recent studies, children with obesity are 4 to 5 times more likely to develop OSA when compared to those without obesity. Obesity in adolescents and children is measured by BMI, but results are interpreted differently. Since body fat can change during your youth, the BMI of an adolescent or a child is compared to the BMI of those of the same sex and age.

 

Obesity and Sleep Apnea in Children

1% to 5% of children have obstructive sleep apnea. The children at most risk are those with enlarged tonsils or obesity. According to recent studies, children with obesity are 4 to 5 times more likely to develop OSA when compared to those without obesity. Obesity in adolescents and children is measured by BMI, but results are interpreted differently. Since body fat can change during your youth, the BMI of an adolescent or a child is compared to the BMI of those of the same sex and age.

 

Does Losing Weight Help in Getting Rid of Sleep Apnea?

Weight loss is not the only sure way to treat sleep apnea. It can provide substantial health benefits, including improved sleep and overall general wealth. Weight gain leads to a 10% increase in the risk of sleep apnea. The same percentage of weight loss can lead to a 20% improvement in sleep apnea symptoms.

Obese patients with bariatric branding did record significant improvements in slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement (REM). These two are vital indicators of better sleep patterns. Patients who lost weight without any surgical intervention had the same success rate as those without sleep apnea who tried to lose weight. Despite most losing close to 14% of their weight in a year, weight loss slowed or started to reverse after two years. Most patients had their sleep apnea symptoms reduced with weight loss. The symptoms did re-emerge with weight gain.

At 24 months, despite their weight moving up and down, their sleep apnea symptoms showed improvement despite doing nothing. The main reason why this happens is because of the ghrelin and leptin hormones. When sleep apnea improves and the two hormones are produced at healthy levels, the sleeper can regulate their appetite and lose weight. Ghrelin will continue building appetite even when the patients are sleeping.

When you start losing weight, your sleep apnea will improve as the levels of hormones start to normalise. It will make it easier to lose weight. It will help increase the chances of successful sleep apnea treatment and loss of weight.

 

Get Help with Weight Gain and Sleep Apnea

There is no single treatment when it comes to obesity and sleep apnea. The best approach is to use your entire body while considering all the factors contributing to weight gain and sleep apnea. An obese person can have sleep apnea, while an individual with sleep apnea can become obese. It is therefore important to maintain a healthy diet and address the causes of all these conditions.

If you suspect you are suffering from sleep apnea and have not sought a diagnosis, SomnoMed can help! Contact us today to learn more about sleep apnea and obesity.