A healthy lifestyle is a key to living a good and fulfilling life. And the two main pillars of living a healthy life are a balanced weight and a good night’s sleep. However, if you are obese or in the habit of snoring through the night, things can get disturbed. It is so because both obesity and a good night’s sleep are related. People who are overweight are more likely to snore, which prevents them from gaining quality sleep, while on the other hand, snoring increases weight and disturbs a healthy lifestyle. For those who would like to understand the vicious cycle that obesity and snoring share in more detail, we have explained it in the following sections! Have a look!
How does being overweight lead to snoring?
Your average body weight is determined by your eating and exercising habits. It may have something to do with a degree of genetic predisposition as well. In overweight people, the parts where the fat is distributed dictates snoring habits. So, for those wondering how to get rid of snoring, losing weight is one of the options.
Here is how obesity leads to snoring:
Fat in the neck directly compressed the upper airway
People who are overweight and have thick necks are likely to snore. The reason behind it is that neck fat compresses the upper airway. It is much more likely to happen when you are lying down, increasing the chances of snoring. Although many people fail to realize this association, it certainly plays a role. People who have a neck size greater than 16 inches are more vulnerable to this habit than others.
Midriff fat indirectly compresses upper airway
People who are obese and have fat collected around their chest and midriff are typically snorers. It is because belly fat pushes the diaphragm in the upper position, and fat on the chest compresses the ribcage. It can shrink the volume of your lungs. It results in lowered lung capacity and restricted airflow.
Men are much more likely to snore because of their fat distribution
In men and women, the fat is distributed in different ways that offer a plausible cause as to why men are more likely to snore than women. While females generally gain weight on their thighs, hips, and buttocks, the males collect it on their chest and abdomen. However, after menopause, the tendency of fat distribution in women changes. It makes central weight gain and snoring more likely in women after a certain point in their lives.
Can snoring make you overweight?
Snoring can indeed make you overweight. It happens because snorers fail to catch on to high-quality sleep. And sleep deprivation influences your appetite and rest patterns. So, for example, someone who doesn’t have had a good night’s sleep will likely feel tired and fatigued. Due to this, he will consume foods rich in sugar to fill the energy void. And consumption of sugary foods will lead to weight gain and obesity.
Thus, snoring and obesity form a vicious cycle where one affects the other. So, people who snore should take care of their weight to maintain a healthy lifestyle.