According to the National Sleep Foundation, "As the person gains weight, especially in the trunk and neck area, the risk of sleep-disordered breathing increases due to compromised respiratory function." There's no doubt that obesity, which is largely influenced by nutrition and diet, significantly increases the risk of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder categorized by snoring, poor sleep quality and diabetes, may be treated with nutrition and diet. Because obesity ups the risk of suffering from sleep apnea, taking control of nutrition and diet can greatly improve your sleep apnea symptoms.
Apnea
Sleep apnea isn't just a loud annoyance that keeps your bed mate awake. It's a serious medical condition that can result in diabetes, depression, fatigue, irritability and mood disorders.
The National Sleep Foundation reports that 18 million adults have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Based on data from the September 1999 issue of "Sleep," Vishesh Kapur, M.D., Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of Washington Department of Medicine claimed that sleep apnea is commonly under-diagnosed, suggesting that there are many more people with this condition than estimated.
OSA
There are two different types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the airway becomes physically blocked during sleep, is by far the most common. Less common, Central Sleep Apnea, is due to a central nervous system problem during sleep.
OSA, diagnosed when someone wakes at least five times from an inability to breathe, is the sleep apnea most closely tied to obesity and influenced by diet.
Obesity
Patricia Prinz, professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington states that: "There is a well-documented relationship between short sleep duration and high body mass index (BMI)." Also, a June 2009 Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies concluded that there was a scientifically established link between obesity and OSA.
While obesity and OSA are clearly linked, scientists aren't sure whether OSA contributes to obesity or obesity contributes to OSA; perhaps it is both.
Weight Loss
Although OSA and obesity is classic "chicken or the egg" phenomenon, it appears that losing weight can help treat, and even cure, OSA.
According to the December 2009 edition of Science Daily, scientists in Karolinska Institute found that a patients who lost significant amounts of weight on a very low-calorie diet program slashed the number of "apnea events" in half.
Considerations
Although weight loss may improve OSA, the only research done so far was in significantly obese people who lost at least 40 pounds of body weight.
It's unclear whether losing a just few pounds will help OSA. However, because obesity is tied to a number of chronic diseases, like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, losing weight is a wise choice for anyone who is overweight or obese.
References
- National Sleep Foundation: Obesity and Sleep
- "PLoS Medicine"; Sleep, Appetite, and Obesity--What Is the Link?; Patricia Prinz; December 2004
- ScienceDaily: Weight-Loss Proves Effective Cure for Sleep Apnea
- ScienceDaily: Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Weight Gain Found
- "Sleep"; The Medical Cost Of Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea;Vishesh Kapur; September 1999
