Can Weight Loss Cure Sleep Apnea? Myth or Fact?

In 2021, one of Indonesia's most popular comedians, Pandji Pragiwaksono, announced through his social media accounts that he had successfully lost 16 kilograms, bringing his weight down from 96 kilograms. After achieving this weight loss, he shared that his body felt noticeably more refreshed and healthier.

Pandji also mentioned that a number of his health issues improved after losing weight, including sleep apnea, which he had previously been diagnosed with. So, is it true that losing weight can help address sleep apnea? Here is everything you need to know.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Those with sleep apnea can stop breathing multiple times throughout the night. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed (a combination of both). Of these three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. 

In OSA, the airway narrows and becomes repeatedly blocked, preventing air from passing through. This occurs when the muscles in the upper throat relax too much, causing the tongue to fall back and obstruct the airway while the person is asleep. 

In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. This condition is caused by a dysfunction in the central nervous system, such as in individuals who have recently suffered a stroke.

Mixed sleep apnea, as the name suggests, is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea. It occurs when symptoms of both OSA and CSA alternate while the person is asleep.

The Link Between Body Weight and Sleep Apnea

Several factors can increase a person's risk of developing sleep apnea, one of which is being overweight or obese. Excess body weight raises the risk of sleep apnea because individuals who are obese tend to have fat deposits around the neck, known as pharyngeal fat. 

Referring back to the causes of obstructive sleep apnea mentioned above, when the throat muscles begin to relax, pharyngeal fat can further narrow and block the airway during sleep. This is why people with sleep apnea typically snore loudly — air is forced through an extremely narrow passage.

Furthermore, an enlarged abdominal circumference due to excess fat can press against the chest wall, reducing lung volume. This decreased lung capacity restricts airflow, making the upper airway more prone to collapse during sleep. 

The risk of OSA can continue to rise as body mass index (BMI) increases. In fact, a 10% increase in body weight is associated with a six-fold increase in the risk of OSA.

How Weight Loss Can Help Manage Sleep Apnea

Much like many other conditions, lifestyle changes can help manage sleep apnea. For those with sleep apnea who are overweight, losing weight is one of the most strongly recommended approaches to addressing this sleep disorder.

By losing weight, individuals with sleep apnea can reduce fat deposits in the neck and abdomen, which in turn helps normalize lung volume and improve airway traction — ultimately keeping the airway open during sleep. 

Therefore, losing weight can help resolve sleep apnea and significantly reduce many OSA-related symptoms, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, and other neuropsychiatric dysfunctions, all of which may show meaningful improvement. 

However, one important thing to keep in mind is that sleep apnea varies in severity. If you have successfully lost weight but are still experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you undergo a sleep test and CPAP therapy. To arrange a sleep test and CPAP therapy, please contact Resindo Medika.

Resindo Medika is the official distributor and service center for ResMed in Indonesia. Resindo Medika provides Sleep Diagnostic Test highly accurate diagnostics using internationally standardized diagnostic equipment. Following your sleep test, you will also receive a recommendation for the CPAP therapy device best suited to your needs. You can shop online or visit Resindo Medika in person at our location in South Jakarta to get the right CPAP therapy device for you.