Sleep apnea and weight gain: What’s the link?

People who loudly snore at night and wake up tired and sleepy in the morning despite resting for seven hours should get a sleep apnea test. For those who aren’t aware, sleep apnea is a condition where the patient has trouble breathing. It causes him to wake from sleep gasping for air. The sleep problem should be treated asap as it may cause several complications like lousy sleep, high BP, and heart problems. But is sleep apnea also linked with weight gain? To find out an answer, read further!

1. Sleep apnea and appetite:

Having apnea affects your appetite through two hormones, named leptin and ghrelin. The prior is responsible for making you feel full, while the latter increases hunger. When a person has sleep apnea, his body has increased ghrelin levels, making him feel more hungry. Similarly, the production of leptin is low, which keeps you from feeling full despite having a meal.

In a study conducted in 2019, it was revealed that obese individuals had leptin resistance, leading to excess intake of calories and problems with losing weight. In addition, in fatty people, decreased ghrelin levels are also typical. Because of changes in these hormone levels, people with sleep apnea are likely to feel more hungry and consume more calories.

2. Lack of sleep prevents weight loss:

Adults aged between 18 and 60 years of age need at least seven to eight hours of rest every night. When you sleep less, your ability to lose weight may get affected. A study shows that even on a low-calorie diet, people lose 55% less fat when they lack sleep than individuals on the same diet and proper rest. Another study published in the International Journal of Obesity revealed that inconsistent sleep patterns or short sleep duration lower the likelihood of successful weight loss. Moreover, since sleep loss leads to a lack of impulse control, junk food cravings, and feeling too tired, weight loss ability gets hindered.

3. Weight gain means increased chances of apnea:

People who are obese have increased chances of developing sleep apnea. It happens because when weight increases, the tissues around the throat increase. Therefore, it elevates the chances of acquiring sleep apnea as the extra weight increases the likelihood of collapsing soft palate. In addition, an article published in 2017 revealed that weight gain could cause increased fat distribution in the neck and contribute to the development of sleep apnea. An increased neck circumference can weaken the airway and cause snoring and sleep apnea.

So, these are a few ways in which sleep apnea is linked with weight gain. These factors have a two-way relationship because apnea leads to weight gain, and an increase in weight contributes to sleep apnea.