Obesity and Sleep Apnea

Scientists have found a direct correlation between sleep deprivation and weight gain. Sufferers of sleep apnea gain weight faster than people who get seven to nine good hours of sleep each night. 50% of diagnosed obstructed sleep apnea patients are overweight. In 2006 the Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick released results of a sleep deprivation study.

Astonishingly, they found that patients with sleep deprivation had twice the chance of becoming obese than those who obtained good sleep. Studies show that the rise in obesity mirrors the rise in diagnosed sleep apnea patients. Historically it was thought that obesity was a main culprit behind sleep apnea. It seems now the opposite may be true.

There are two very important hormones that help regulate weight, Grehlin and Leptin. Grehlin is a hunger trigger. It increases the body's need for food and regulates body weight. It has been found that deprivation of sleep raises Grehlin levels, possibly the body's attempt to keep the mind active with increased nutrient intake. Leptin is a naturally occurring appetite suppressant. It tells the brain to quit eating. Leptin levels decrease with lack of sleep causing the person to become hungrier. The reversed levels of these hormones combined with the lack of exercise due to exhaustion is a recipe for weight gain.

This creates a Catch 22 situation. Extra weight is not just stored around the abdomen or buttocks. It is stored everywhere including the neck, throat and oral airway. This added mass narrows the available space used for inspiration and expiration. Excess fat combined with loss of muscle tone while sleeping results in a blockage of the air passage by allowing the tongue to fall backwards and the airway to collapse.

The brain becomes deprived of oxygen and overloaded with carbon dioxide. This is the brain's cue that something is wrong. It wakes the body in order to jump start breathing again. This can happen many times a night, often without the sufferers knowledge. With the constant interruption of sleep, sleep deprivation occurs. While awake, high calorie and sugared foods are inadvertently sought out in an attempt to energize the brain and body. Weight regulating hormone levels are negatively affected, initiating more weight gain which in turn make the sleep apnea worse.

Stopping the devastating lack of sleep/weight gain cycle should be a top priority. Every overweight person with sleep apnea needs to initiate a weight loss program along with their apnea treatment plan. Acquiring good sleep combined with weight loss will facilitate even more weight loss and even better sleep. Many once overweight sleep apnea patients no longer suffer from nocturnal apneas and do not need interventions or appliances. In essence, after losing weight, a patient may no longer have sleep apnea.

Important: The information presented on this page and other pages on this site is based upon the opinions of the author and on the author's interpretation of published reports and articles. It is not intended to replace your relationship with a qualified health care professional, and is not intended as medical advice.

The author encourages you to make your own health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

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