Yes, sleep apnea can prevent weight loss due to poor sleep quality.
Why does sleep quality matter when it relates to weight loss? Well, overall, quality sleep keeps our minds and bodies in balance.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can have a significant impact on an individual’s health and well-being.
Recent research has suggested that it may also be linked to preventing weight loss and causing weight gain.
Studies have shown that people with OSA are more likely to gain weight than those without the condition, even when they have the same BMI (body mass index) and health status.
This is thought to be due to the fact that sleep deprivation leads to a slower metabolism and hormone levels getting out of balance.
Additionally, people with OSA may not have enough energy to maintain a healthy body weight due to their disrupted sleep patterns.
Can sleep apnea prevent weight loss?
Sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, or cause weight gain, by changing your hormone levels, decreasing your energy, and slowing your metabolism.
How sleep apnea increases your appetite?
Sleep apnea causes sleep loss. As a result, sleep loss can have a significant impact on your appetite and weight gain.
When you don’t get enough sleep, two hormones called ghrelin and leptin are affected.
Ghrelin is the hormone that increases your appetite, while leptin is the hormone that decreases it.
Studies have shown that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea have significantly higher levels of ghrelin and significantly lower levels of leptin, which means they are more likely to feel hungry and consume more calories.
How sleep apnea causes less energy?
Low energy and chronic fatigue can have a major impact on your life. When you don’t get restful sleep for months or years, it can cause you to feel chronically tired and zap your energy levels.
This makes it difficult to do healthy tasks, like grocery shopping, meal prep, and exercising. You may find yourself prioritizing only the most critical tasks while putting off anything extra.
As a result, you end up skipping the diet, eating more fast food, and living a more sedentary lifestyle which can lead to weight gain.
The lack of energy can also affect your mental health as well. It can be difficult to stay motivated when you’re feeling exhausted all the time.
You may find yourself withdrawing from activities that used to bring you joy or feeling overwhelmed by even the simplest of tasks.
If left untreated, low energy and chronic fatigue can have serious consequences on your physical and mental well-being.
How sleep apnea slows metabolism?
Having a slow metabolism can be a major obstacle to maintaining a healthy weight.
metabolism is the rate at which your body burns the calories you consume, and when it slows down, it can be difficult to keep off extra pounds.
When having sleep apnea, slower metabolism is due to fatigue. When you’re tired, your lifestyle becomes less active and you’ll expend fewer daily calories.
Over time, this lifestyle change can lead to an actual drop in your metabolism, making it more likely that you’ll gain weight even without increasing your caloric intake.
Can sleep deprivation prevent weight loss?
The lack of sleep can greatly affect your chances of losing weight. The CDC recommends that adults aged 18 to 60 get seven or more hours of sleep each night.
If you don’t get enough sleep, it could inhibit your weight loss efforts.
Research has found that individuals who are sleep deprived, even when on a low-calorie diet, tend to lose 55% less fat-weight than those who have enough rest.
A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that inconsistent sleep patterns or a shortened sleep duration can lower the likelihood of successful weight loss.
Insufficient rest can result in problems with self-regulation, an urge to eat unhealthy food, and a lack of energy for physical activities, thus making it difficult for you to stay motivated in your weight loss goals.
Additionally, people with sleep apnea may find it more difficult to lose weight due to their body’s inability to efficiently burn fat while sleeping.
Therefore, getting enough quality sleep is essential for anyone trying to lose weight as it helps regulate hormones and metabolism which are both key components in successful weight loss.
Can weight gain cause sleep apnea?
Weight gain can increase your chances of developing sleep apnea or make your symptoms worse.
According to Chadwick Denman, DDS, a sleep specialist at Sleep Cycle Center, the extra weight makes it more likely that the tissues in the soft palate will collapse, causing an apnea event.
A 2017 article published in Anesthesia and Analgesia also found that weight gain can cause an increase in fat distribution in the neck and waist specifically, which can contribute to the development of sleep apnea.
Additionally, Mayo Clinic observes that an increased neck circumference can narrow the airway, leading to snoring and sleep apnea.
It is important to be aware of how weight gain can increase your risk for sleep apnea.
If you are overweight or obese and have symptoms such as loud snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep, it is important to speak with your doctor about being tested for this condition.
Treatment options may include lifestyle changes such as losing weight or using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while sleeping.
Taking steps to reduce your risk of developing sleep apnea can help improve your overall health and quality of life.
Can treating sleep apnea help weight loss?
Yes, treating sleep apnea by making lifestyle changes, going on CPAP therapy, or a mouth guard can all help in your weight loss efforts.
When treated correctly, your metabolism, hormones, and energy will all return to normal.
Studies have shown that losing 7-10% of your body fat can reduce symptoms of OSA, no matter how severe.
Once you are getting better quality sleep, you will feel better, crave less, eat better, and have more energy to be active.
All these positive factors increase the likelihood of losing weight.
Conclusion
Overall, yes, sleep apnea can prevent weight loss due to poor sleep, slower metabolism, hormonal changes, and less energy.
It is important to talk with your doctor or ENT if you suspect that you may have OSA, as it can have serious health consequences.
Treatment for OSA can help improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of weight gain or difficulty with weight loss.
