Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain - An Unfortunate Catch 22

We normally think of sleep as being a pretty simple part of life. It’s actually pretty complex. It’s necessary for us to live healthy lifestyles. Lack of sleep can be a ticking time bomb that ultimately can lead to an untimely death. In fact, millions of Americans unknowingly live, and sleep, with this time bomb. Sleep apnea is a condition that slowly but surely chips minutes off of ones life span, especially when the problem continues to go undetected and therefore untreated. The main problem with sleep apnea is that it is a condition that can only be immediately detected at night, otherwise patients are merely left with seemingly benign symptoms including daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, and a lack of energy throughout the day. However, the condition becomes even more complicated when considering sleep apneics (people who suffer from sleep apnea) who are overweight.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person to stop breathing at various times throughout the night. Depending on the severity of sleep apnea, a patient can unknowingly stop breathing hundreds of times while sleeping and each of these episodes can last 30 seconds, sometimes longer. The cause of the cessations in breathing depend on the type of apnea that the patient has. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex sleep apnea, all of which are equally deadly.

Central sleep apnea is caused by a miscommunication within the brain where the body basically “forgets” to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most commonly diagnosed type of sleep apnea, causes irregular breathing due to airway obstruction which usually occurs due to a soft palate collapse. The soft palate and the soft tissues within the throat region, including the tongue, tonsils, and adenoids, can obstruct the airway which then causes irregular breathing cycles as well as snoring in most (but not all) sleep apneics. Complex sleep apnea, is a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is very commonly found in overweight individuals, but sleep apnea can effect anyone of any type of health or body mass index.

Sleep Apnea And Obesity

If you keep up-to-date with today’s news, you’re probably well aware that obesity is a growing trend in the United States. Obesity, especially in younger generations, is becoming an increasing problem, considered by many to be a true epidemic in every sense of the word. Overweight individuals are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, especially OSA, as excess pockets of fat within the neck and throat area can cause airway obstruction.

The problem with sleep apnea and obesity is that patients are caught in a catch 22, a situation that can seem to be nearly impossible to escape. Overweight sleep apneics usually find that their weight condition may have been increased by their sleep apnea. As explained by Dr. Roger Roubal, a dentist in Omaha who treats sleep apnea, “Sleep apnea patients who are overweight may be overweight, at least in part, because they lack energy because of the apnea. They try to compensate with sugary foods for an energy boost. Unfortunately, these high-sugar foods and drinks can cause weight gain. On the other hand, they may be overweight first and then develop obstructive sleep apnea because of the excess fat deposits in their throat.”

Treating An Overweight Sleep Apneic

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In the case of obesity and sleep apnea, it can be hard to say whether weight gain is the result of having sleep apnea or if weight gain is the cause behind sleep apnea. In the end, when it comes to how to treat the patient, it doesn’t matter. “No matter which came first, the weight or the apnea, sleep apnea treatment is critical if the patient is ever to lose the weight. Without revitalizing sleep at night, the patients will never have the energy and drive to exercise and so their weight-loss efforts are somewhat doomed from the beginning,” explained Dr. Roubal.

In order for sleep apnea treatment to be successful in overweight patients, treatment has to be two-fold. Not only must patients be paired with the right sleep apnea treatment such as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or oral appliance therapy, they must also be committed to a lifestyle change in exercise and dietary habits. Without weight-loss, sleep apnea treatment is truly done in vain, as excess weight will continue to aggravate the condition. Sleep apnea treatment without lifestyle changes is a stop-gap measure. The sleep apnea may not kill the individual, but diabetes or some other obesity complication will. This is the unfortunate but very real catch 22 when it comes to sleep apnea and weight gain.

About the author: Ashley Page writes for Off-Topic Media. Dr. Roubal treats sleep apnea at his Omaha office. He can be reached at:

Advanced TMJ and Sleep Center
11919 Grant Street, Suite 140
Omaha, NE 68168-3475
(402) 493-4175

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