Sleep disorders & obesity are two of the leading epidemics in America. Are the two connected? We take a look at how sleep apnea could be hindering your weight loss.

18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is becoming increasingly common amongst adults as well as young adults. The disorder derives its name from the Greek term ‘apnea’ which literally means without breath. Imagine not breathing for 10 seconds while you are asleep. Quite scary, isn’t it? Sleep apnea and the risks associated with its advent can prove to be fatalistic, if not diagnosed and treated in due time. 

Sleep foundation states that ‘Sleep apnea is a relatively common disorder in which people experience disrupted breathing while they are sleeping. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type of sleep apnea, disruptive breathing occurs because of a narrow or blocked upper airway. It’s similar to breathing through a straw. Those with severe OSA may have upwards of 30 breathing disruptions per night’ 

Causes of Sleep Apnea 

It is a well-established fact that there are three kinds of sleep apnea. They are as follows: 

• Central Sleep Apnea

This type of sleep apnea is caused when the brain falters in sending the right signals to the muscles that let you breathe. 

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The most common type of sleep apnea is OSA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea and is caused by an obstruction in the airway cause of relaxing throat muscles. 

• Complex Apnea Syndrome

The most dangerous of the kinds of sleep apnea, this one is a combination of both and can lead to serious complications if not detected and treated on time. 

Even though sleep apnea is common amongst adults and children alike, there are certain factors that might just put one at a higher risk of suffering from either kind of sleep apnea. The most commonly observed risk factors of OSA as observed by Mayo Clinic are as follows: 

• Excess weight. 
• Neck circumference. 
• A narrowed airway. 
• Being male. 
• Being older. 
• Family history.
• Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers. 
• Smoking. 
• Nasal congestion. 
• Medical conditions

Excess Weight and Sleep Apnea 

Are you trying and trying to lose excess weight, but to no avail? Following the right kind of diet, regularly exercising, and balancing a regulated sleep schedule. Let’s presume that you have tried it all. Even go the extra mile to get in shape, but nothing seems to be working out except for those rising stress-levels. Well, if you are experiencing this very hindrance, chances are sleep apnea might have a thing or two to do with it! 

Sleep foundation also tells us that, ‘additionally, increased abdominal girth from excess fat can compress a person’s chest wall, decreasing lung volume. This reduced lung capacity diminished airflow, making the upper airway more likely to collapse during sleep. OSA risk continues to increase with a rising body mass index (BMI), which measures one’s body fat based on height and weight. Even a 10% weight gain is associated with a six-fold increase in OSA risk’

Extensive research and the prevalence of OSA has prompted researchers to find potential links between weight gain and sleep apnea. Yes, excess weight is one of the main causes of all kinds of sleep apnea. But studies also show a glaring connection between weight gain and sleep apnea. 

So, Can Sleep Apnea In Turn Cause Weight Gain? 

Many sleep scientists and experts are becoming absolutely sure about sleep apnea aiding weight gain as well. Some have gone far enough to state that the relationship between OSA and excess weight is reciprocal in nature. This is because unregulated, disturbed sleep has a direct influence on hormones that literally control our appetite. If a person avails insufficient amounts of sleep, the need to consume calorie-dense food increases leading to excess weight gain. To state it simply – insufficient sleep often results in over-eating. 

The Sleep Foundation further elaborates that – ‘It also appears that OSA patients, in particular, may be more susceptible to weight gain than people who have the same BMI and health status but do not suffer from sleep apnea. This is illustrated in one study that showed people with OSA gained significantly more weight (around 16 pounds9) in the year leading up to their OSA diagnosis compared with BMI-matched people without OSA’ A person trying to lower or stabilize body-weight requires energy, which sleeps apnea lowers as it progresses. This can further reduce the person’s capacity to exert the required amount of physical activity, which may result in obesity. Obesity poses as a silent killer and has a huge impact on cardiovascular and lung activities. 

Thus, it is safe to assume that sleep apnea and its various complications must be tackled at the right time. Obesity/weight gain and sleep apnea tend to go hand-in-hand, thus making it very difficult to apply the right treatment.  Thus, it is of vital importance to follow a regulated sleeping pattern as well as a schedule that benefits not just our mind, but the body too.