Weight and poor sleep, major factors for OSA – Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The importance of this topic regarding OSA and weight gain is becoming more prevalent to discuss due to an increase in obesity within our society, the statistics below are quite alarming:

2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18

36% were overweight but not obese, and 31% were obese

60% of men and 66% of women in 2017–18 had a waist circumference that indicated high risk of metabolic complications

Reference: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – last updated July 2019

The underlying disorder

OSA if left untreated can greatly impact on your endocrine system, which is responsible for your metabolic function and weight. When OSA interrupts and fragments sleep (causing a need to “wake up briefly” to take a breath) the sleep cycle becomes disturbed when the endocrine system is most active, which may lead to weight gain and metabolic disorders, as well contributing to a lack of energy.

While not all overweight people will experience OSA, weight gain can dramatically increase your chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Poor sleep quality increases the production of appetite and hormones which lead to an increase in weight gain and as the weight is increasing our bodies produce more fat.

Gaining extra pounds can impact on developing OSA and untreated OSA can result in gaining extra pounds, the additional fat produced causes and/or increases the obstructed breathing due to the increased neck circumference.

Poor sleep and physical activity

Poor sleep quality also effects physical activity. Less sleep or the quality of sleep we receive decreases our desire to become physical daily.

Less physical activity impacts our lives daily and it shows that we gain more weight due to the lack of exercise we participate in. As participation of physical activity decreases other risk factors become prevalent, less active and less fit people have a greater risk of becoming overweight and may start to exhibit ailments that relate to OSA or further undiagnosed symptoms.

Undiagnosed symptoms

Symptoms of OSA and weight gain if left untreated or undiagnosed may lead to further serious complications relating to your health including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues and high blood pressure.

Concerns surrounding weight gain and poor sleep quality, should alert you to seeking further advice from your doctor and sleep specialist so you do not commence on the cycle of undiagnosed OSA and/or weight gain.

The right advice

Your doctor can refer you to a sleep specialist to complete a sleep study which will analyse your sleep patterns and provide you with the right prescribed therapy as both OSA and weight gain can be managed with the right support and you will find your health improving.

For more information and to take part in our sleep test and receive notification of your risk factor score allowing you to take the steps to better health.