How Much Does Weight Loss Help With Sleep Apnea?

If you are overweight or obese, losing between 5 and 10 percent of your body weight may alleviate or completely eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea. One of the most frequent conditions that can disrupt your sleep is obstructive sleep apnea, which is also known as OSA. Because the soft tissues that line your airways contract and impede your airflow, apnea can cause you to feel as though you have stopped breathing for a few seconds or even minutes. It can cause you to receive less quality sleep, which in turn can raise the likelihood that you will experience major health problems such as a heart attack or a stroke.

However, if you are overweight or obese, you can take certain actions to alleviate your sleep apnea, such as lowering your weight. By continuing to read, you will gain further insight into the connection between managing your weight and sleep apnea.

Does losing weight aid in the treatment of sleep apnea?

You cannot change some of the risk factors for sleep apnea, such as genetics, sexuality, or postmenopausal. You may be able to manage additional issues, such as your body weight, according to Trusted Source.

The predominant risk factor is being overweight or obese. The most trustworthy source of information about the onset and severity of sleep apnea is obesity. Those who are overweight or obese may find that decreasing merely five to ten percent of their body weight is sufficient to either eliminate or improve their condition on their own.

Should I reduce weight in order to get rid of my sleep apnea?

According to a number of studies, reducing your weight can help reduce the severity of your sleep apnea. Trusted Source conducted a literature analysis in 2021 and found that lifestyle modifications, such as increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy diet, were essential in managing sleep apnea over time. The researchers even discovered that a small number of the persons who participated in the tests and dropped weight were able to completely eliminate their sleep apnea.

On the other hand, lowering weight does not necessarily mean that sleep apnea will disappear. Despite this, you can significantly alleviate the severity of your symptoms by losing weight, although the required weight loss will vary significantly.

Does having sleep apnea make it difficult for me to lose weight?

You have access to a number of different programs that can assist you in losing weight. Implementing specific program qualities, such as making significant lifestyle adjustments, can lead to success.

Methods that are typically the most successful include the following:

1. Behavioural therapy involves reducing the number of calories consumed and increasing the amount of physical activity or exercise.
2. If you decide to adjust your food intake, we recommend aiming for a nutritious diet consisting of approximately 1,200–1,500 calories per day for ladies and 1,500–1,800 calories per day for males.
3. Decide which diet you will most likely appreciate and then stay with it. Nonetheless, for the sake of one’s overall health, it is advantageous to keep a diet that is both well-balanced and nutrient-dense.

Don’t wait to seek care

It is essential to begin treatment at an early stage in order to prevent injury and regain quality of life when it comes to issues of sleep and weight. If you treat sleep apnea properly, you have a very good chance of recovery. To exacerbate the situation, it is crucial to actively control one’s weight at any age. If you have any suspicions that you might be suffering from sleep apnea, it is imperative that you consult a medical professional in order to receive a precise diagnosis and individualized treatment choices.