Dr. Ahmed Sleep apnea is a globally rising disease that becomes even more prevalent with obesity. Being overweight is one of the main components leading to sleep apnea. Just as obesity is linked with the prevalence of sleep apnea, it plays a significant role in its prevention, too.
That is why weight loss is the primary prevention and treatment option for obesity and sleep apnea. According to studies, changes in weight are directly linked to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and the highest-weight people have the most severe apnea-hypopnea index. [Ref]
If you are obese and struggling with sleep apnea, here are the possible treatment options for your condition. But in each case, weight loss is a must!
What is the link between Obesity and Sleep Apnea?
Obesity causes an increase in overall fat deposits in the body. The excess fat also accumulates in the narrow airways of the upper respiratory tract. This leads to decreased muscle activity in the area, which ultimately results in apneic episodes.
Unfortunately, this does not stop here; the apneic episodes result in decreased oxygen supply and hypoxia, which is the key contributor to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications.
According to one study, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea are linked to various other chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart failure, and depression. [Ref]
Another study concluded that obese people are more likely to have shorter sleep duration and have double the risk of subjective sleep problems as compared to non-obese people. [Ref]
Can Sleep Apnea Lead to Obesity?
Yes, according to studies, the relationship between obesity and sleep apnea comes both ways. So, if you have one of these conditions, you are most likely to have the other one.
This is mainly because shorter sleep duration or disturbed sleep is linked to decreased levels of leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite. Moreover, sleep disturbance is also linked to increased production of ghrelin (hunger hormone), which leads to increased appetite. All of this hormonal imbalance leads to weight gain and obesity.
According to one study, people with obstructive sleep apnea tend to gain more weight in one year compared to people who do not have this condition. [Ref]
Additionally, people with sleep apnea experience daytime sleepiness, which hinders their daily physical activities and leads to a sedentary lifestyle, which in turn causes weight gain.
So, one way or the other, sleep apnea and obesity are directly linked.
Obesity and Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
The link between obesity and sleep apnea clearly makes weight loss the best strategy to avoid both of these conditions and various other comorbidities.
Here are the most effective treatment options for obesity and sleep apnea.
Lifestyle changes and weight loss
A healthy weight guarantees a healthy life without any disturbed sleep issues. Weight loss directly decreases sleep obstructions and related depression.
However, achieving your weight loss goals isn’t so easy and weight loss does not happen overnight. Just as your body goes through hormonal fluctuations during weight gain, it goes with all those disturbances during weight loss too. This is because your body attempts to have a set point weight.
You might have to fight excessive cravings which is your body’s way to recover all the lost weight. So, you need extra motivation to start on the weight loss journey.
Moreover, exercise helps quite a lot. The best diet to get back to a healthy weight isn’t a strict, restrictive diet; it is just a balanced diet with regular physical activity.
CPAP for Sleep Apnea
Another conventional treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this, you have to use a machine that delivers constant airflow to the airways. The device can be either nasal, facial, or oral. This device reduces sleep disturbances and hypoxia, greatly relieving sleep apnea symptoms.
Surgical weight loss
Another way to lose weight is to opt for surgical weight loss procedures. Surgical procedures bring faster results and show evident before-and-after effects on obesity and sleep apnea.
According to studies, bariatric surgery is the major treatment option for patients in which diet and lifestyle changes and even CPAP therapy have failed. [Ref]
Furthermore, sleep apnea and obesity are significantly linked, and CPAP treatments only focus on managing sleep apnea while the problem of excess body weight remains. That is why weight loss should be ensured, even if it is done through surgical procedures.
Other Treatments
Other treatment options include medical management of sleep apnea and obesity by using weight loss medications and psychoactive drugs like modafinil for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Additionally, positional therapies, such as avoiding the supine position while sleeping, can also be beneficial in milder stages of sleep apnea. Unfortunately, positional therapies have no effect in severe cases of sleep apnea.
Lastly, behavioral therapy for eating disorders can also help people with eating disorders to lose weight and adopt healthy dietary choices.
Conclusion
Obesity and sleep apnea are two sides of the same coin, and that is why addressing both conditions is the only reliable treatment option. Even if you go for CPAP therapy or medical treatments, you still need to work on losing weight to get a permanent solution for both conditions.
