Can Weight Loss Cure Sleep Apnea?

In Singapore, obesity is a significant health concern, with about 32% of men and 22% of women being overweight, according to the Health Promotion Board. Moreover, one in 10 Singaporeans aged 18 to 69 is classified as obese. This is particularly concerning because obesity is the strongest risk factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition affecting more than half of those diagnosed. Let’s explore the critical link between obesity and sleep apnea, highlighting the impactful role weight management plays in controlling this sleep disorder.

Understanding Obesity

Obesity, marked by excessive body fat accumulation, is a health concern with serious implications. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) falls at 27.5 or higher, you belong to the obesity group, and you are at risk of getting sleep apnea. Let’s explore how BMI is calculated and what it means for your health.

To determine your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms (kg) by the square of your height in metres. This simple calculation sheds light on your weight category and potential health risks. Let’s take a look at an example:

Charles weighs 70 kilograms (kg) and stands 1.75 metres (m) tall. To calculate his BMI, you would first square their height in metres (1.75 * 1.75 = 3.0625). Next, divide his weight in kg by this squared height value:

70 kg ÷ 3.0625 meters² = 22.86

Thus, a BMI of 22.86 categorises him within the “Normal Weight” range.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

OSA is a disorder in which breathing is interrupted or stopped repeatedly during sleep. This brief pause in breathing can last for at least 10 seconds and occurs when the muscles around the upper airway (or breathing passage) relax and partially or completely block the upper airway for a short period of time during sleep.

How Obesity Affects Sleep Apnea?

Putting on the extra weight increases your chances of having sleep apnea due to having more fat tissues around the neck and throat region, resulting in a narrower breathing passageway and making it susceptible to collapse during sleep. This is further proven by a study that indicates a complex interaction between obesity and OSA, where those with a larger neck circumference (more than 43.2 cm for men and 40.6 cm for women) may have excess fat deposits near the upper airway that can also obstruct breathing.

When the air has to squeeze through the narrowed or blocked airway, it is often heard as snoring, gasping, or snorting.

A Vicious Cycle Between Obesity and Sleep Apnea

Adults with sleep apnea may experience impaired concentration, fatigue, and excessive sleepiness during the day, as they often experience poor sleep quality, which contributes to weight gain and lower energy levels. If you’re constantly fatigued and feeling tired, you might not have the motivation and energy to engage in physical activities. Therefore, it can be more difficult for people with OSA to lose weight, and because obesity can cause difficulties during sleep, the vicious cycle of sleep apnea continues.

Health Risks of Obesity and Sleep Apnea

The vicious cycle mentioned above can be worse than we think. While the dangers of obesity and sleep apnea are significant on their own, when they co-occur, they create a concerning double threat to your health.

Health Risks of Obesity

• Cardiovascular Concerns: Even without sleep apnea, obesity significantly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke, putting undue strain on your cardiovascular system.
• Metabolic Issues: High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are frequent companions of obesity, further impacting your overall health.
• Cancer Risk: Obesity is linked to an increased risk of developing certain cancers.
• Joint Problems: Excess weight puts a burden on your joints, leading to pain and limited mobility.

Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

• Daytime Deficits: Sleep apnea can leave you feeling excessively tired and fatigued during the day, impacting your focus and productivity,as well as increasing the difficulty in losing weight since you may feel too tired to exercise for long.
• Accident and Injury Risk: Chronic sleepiness from sleep apnea can increase your risk of accidents and injuries.
• Cardiovascular Complications: Sleep apnea further elevates your risk of high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias.
• Metabolic Problems: Disrupted sleep from sleep apnea can contribute to metabolic issues like insulin resistance.
• Mood Disorders: Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of mood disorders such as depression.

Aside from the risks above, obesity can lead to excess fat around the chest area, which hinders chest expansion and reduces lung capacity, making breathing more difficult and potentially worsening sleep apnea. On the other hand, sleep apnea disrupts sleep patterns, leading to hormonal imbalances that can exacerbate obesity. This creates a compounding challenge, where effectively treating one condition becomes more difficult due to the presence of the other.

Will Losing Weight Help Get Rid of Sleep Apnea?

Wondering if you can get rid of sleep apnea by losing weight? Losing excess weight and maintaining an ideal BMI can help control sleep apnea. The ideal BMI for males and females ranges between 18.5 to 24.9. Losing weight does help reduce or improve the severity of OSA in overweight patients. However, if there are other underlying structural causes for your OSA (e.g. large tonsils and adenoids, persistent nasal blockage), weight loss alone will not cure your sleep apnea.

How to Diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

In such cases, a definitive sleep study is needed to diagnose and determine OSA. This involves a consultation with an ENT specialist in Singapore to understand your medical history and conduct a physical examination. The sleep study will monitor and record the body’s activity during sleep overnight, including breathing patterns, brain waves, heart rate, and limb movements. This can be done at home, in a sleep clinic or in a hospital.

How to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Once the sleep study is done, the gold standard for managing OSA is using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy — a mask-like device that is worn throughout the night during sleep. It works by having a machine pump air through the tube and masks worn on the nose or face, creating “positive pressure” to keep the upper airway open and prevent snoring. When sleep apnea is managed and under control, you will gain a better quality of sleep and have more energy to exercise and lose weight.

Seek Help for Sleep Apnea with an ENT Specialist

Don’t let sleep apnea disrupt your well-being any longer. If you think you might have OSA, consult with a snoring specialist in Singapore, so they can assess your condition to determine the likely cause of OSA and recommend an appropriate treatment to help you breathe easier, sleep better, and wake up refreshed!

Contact us today

Medically reviewed by Dr Gan Eng Cern