Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsObesity and BreathingTreatment OptionsDiagnostic Sleep StudyLifestyle Measures
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Obesity and Breathing
Treatment Options
Diagnostic Sleep Study
Lifestyle Measures
There is a strong link between obesity and breathing problems during sleep, including conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). While sleep-disordered breathing issues can affect anyone, the prevalence of sleep problems among people with obesity is double that of the general population.Disordered breathing during sleep can increase the risk of obesity, and having obesity can increase the risk of sleep-disordered breathing. Obesity-associated sleep disorders have effective treatments, and sometimes weight loss or exercise can help alleviate the symptoms.Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty ImagesConnection Between Obesity, Sleep, and BreathingObesity affects daytime and nighttime breathing. Carrying more than your optimal weight can make you feel short of breath during the day, especially when you exert physical effort. Difficulty breathing due to the effects of obesity on your heart and lungs can lead to elevated carbon dioxide levels; however, this occurs in a minority of people with obesity.Excess weight can also lead to the accumulation of excess adipose tissue (body fat) in the throat—which narrows the airway. When you relax during sleep, a narrowed airway can close off, resulting in an abrupt pause in breathing.This can cause you to wake up for a few seconds and then fall back asleep again. For people who have OSA, this pattern recurs hundreds of times per night—substantially reducing restful sleep.Sleep-Disordered BreathingSleep-disordered breathing includes several different sleep-related breathing disorders. The conditions are treatable but can have serious health consequences if left untreated. The most common sleep-disordered breathing condition isobstructive sleep apnea. Others include central sleep apnea (CSA) and sleep-related hypoventilation and hypoxemia.Treatment of Obesity Hypoventilation SyndromeRisksSeveral risk factors can contribute to obesity-associated sleep-disordered breathing.Some of these risk factors include:Pregnancy: Weight gain during pregnancy, as well as metabolic and hormonal changes,can contribute to sleep problems, including sleep-disordered breathing. Episodes of diminished oxygen may also contribute to health risks for the fetus.Spinal cord disease: Neurological weakness due to spinal cord disease or spinal cord damage may affect the nerves that power the respiratory muscles. Spinal cord disease can also contribute to the risk of obesity.Malformations of the mouth, throat, and jaw: These conditions can be congenital (from birth) or may develop due to trauma or cancer. Malformations of the structures around the airway can impact breathing, especially during sleep.Disrupted breathing patterns during sleep can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and weight gain—which are some of the same factors that can disrupt sleep.What Is Sleep-Related Hypoventilation?How to Breathe Better During Sleep With ObesityIf you are having trouble with your breathing during sleep, you may benefit from seeing a healthcare provider. Because there are many different types of disordered breathing and sleep disorders, it is crucial to get an accurate diagnosis and work with your healthcare provider to identify the best solution for your condition.Therapies that can help manage problems during sleep with obesity include:Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine: With this at-home device, you wear a special mask or have small tubes inserted in your nose during sleep. The machine then provides gentle pressure to keep your airways open while you are sleeping so your breathing will not stop.Bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) machine: This at-home device is similar to CPAP, except that it provides a different pressure for inhalation than for exhalation.Nasal devices: Various devices hold the nasal cavity open. These devices can prevent snoring and alleviate obstruction of the nasal passages during sleep.Chin strap: This strap can hold your mouth and chin in a position that allows your airway to stay open while you sleep.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation: This treatment can prevent your airway muscles from becoming too relaxed.Surgery: Surgical procedures can help remove excess tissue from the tonsils or adenoids.You may be prescribed a device to use at home, and your healthcare provider will follow up with you to determine whether you need any adjustments to your treatment.When to Consider Doing a Sleep StudyAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s estimated that 1 in 7 adults worldwide have OSA.If you suspect you might have a sleep disorder, you can get an accurate diagnosis.Symptoms of disordered breathing during sleep can include:SnoringWaking up during the nightHaving trouble catching your breath while you are sleepingFeeling sleepy in the morning, even after spending enough time in bedFeeling tired and sleepy during the dayIf you have any of these symptoms, you should speak with a healthcare provider who can determine which diagnostic test you may need.A polysomnogram(a diagnostic sleep study) includes several components. A comprehensive test can be carried out in an overnight sleep testing facility, but sometimes an at-home test can also be prescribed.Components of a diagnostic sleep study include:Electroencephalogram (EEG): This test involves measuring your brain waves through small metal plates that are placed on your scalp with a sticky glue. It provides a reading that determineshow long you spend in each stage of sleep.Pulse oximeter: A plastic device placed on your finger measures your approximate blood oxygen level.Electrooculogram (EOG): A small sensor is placed on the outside of your eyelids to detect your eye movements during sleep.Muscle electrodes: These noninvasive devices are placed on your arm or leg muscle to measure the amount of tossing and turning during sleep.If you are having an at-home sleep study, you may be given a headband to wear. It may contain one or more built-in electrodes to detect your brain activity and sleep stages during sleep.How to Know If You SnoreIt can be hard to know if you snore because you are not fully conscious at that time. Someone in the same room while you’re sleeping might notice your snoring, however.If you sleep alone and would like to know if you snore, you could consider setting up a recording device to record sounds while you’re sleeping. Various sleep apps can do this using your smartphone.Forming Better Habits With Obesity and Sleep-Disordered BreathingThere are effective treatments for all types of sleep-disordered breathing. In addition to prescribed therapies, some lifestyle adjustments may help reduce sleep-disordered breathing.Strategies that can improve sleep-disordered breathing if you have obesity include:Sleep with your head elevated.Consider losing weight to reach a healthy target weight.Exercise during the day.Do not use sleeping pills.Do not take medications that cause sedation or muscle relaxation before bed.Avoid alcohol before bed.SummarySleep-disordered breathing and obesity have a bidirectional relationship, which means that each contributes to the risk of the other. Obesity can impact lung function, the muscles that control breathing, the opening of the airway, and hormones that affect breathing.Disordered breathing and inadequate sleep can affect the body’s hormones, altering metabolism in ways thatcan contribute to obesity.These conditions can lead to several health consequences, including an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.Sleep-disordered breathing has many effective treatments. Additionally, exercise and losing excess weight can help alleviate these sleep disruptions.If your condition is severe or lifestyle factors do not provide adequate improvement, your healthcare provider can prescribe therapy to help improve your breathing during sleep and to help you lose weight.
There is a strong link between obesity and breathing problems during sleep, including conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). While sleep-disordered breathing issues can affect anyone, the prevalence of sleep problems among people with obesity is double that of the general population.
Disordered breathing during sleep can increase the risk of obesity, and having obesity can increase the risk of sleep-disordered breathing. Obesity-associated sleep disorders have effective treatments, and sometimes weight loss or exercise can help alleviate the symptoms.
Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty Images
Connection Between Obesity, Sleep, and Breathing
Obesity affects daytime and nighttime breathing. Carrying more than your optimal weight can make you feel short of breath during the day, especially when you exert physical effort. Difficulty breathing due to the effects of obesity on your heart and lungs can lead to elevated carbon dioxide levels; however, this occurs in a minority of people with obesity.
Excess weight can also lead to the accumulation of excess adipose tissue (body fat) in the throat—which narrows the airway. When you relax during sleep, a narrowed airway can close off, resulting in an abrupt pause in breathing.
This can cause you to wake up for a few seconds and then fall back asleep again. For people who have OSA, this pattern recurs hundreds of times per night—substantially reducing restful sleep.
Sleep-Disordered BreathingSleep-disordered breathing includes several different sleep-related breathing disorders. The conditions are treatable but can have serious health consequences if left untreated. The most common sleep-disordered breathing condition isobstructive sleep apnea. Others include central sleep apnea (CSA) and sleep-related hypoventilation and hypoxemia.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing includes several different sleep-related breathing disorders. The conditions are treatable but can have serious health consequences if left untreated. The most common sleep-disordered breathing condition isobstructive sleep apnea. Others include central sleep apnea (CSA) and sleep-related hypoventilation and hypoxemia.
Treatment of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
Risks
Several risk factors can contribute to obesity-associated sleep-disordered breathing.
Some of these risk factors include:
Disrupted breathing patterns during sleep can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and weight gain—which are some of the same factors that can disrupt sleep.
What Is Sleep-Related Hypoventilation?
How to Breathe Better During Sleep With Obesity
If you are having trouble with your breathing during sleep, you may benefit from seeing a healthcare provider. Because there are many different types of disordered breathing and sleep disorders, it is crucial to get an accurate diagnosis and work with your healthcare provider to identify the best solution for your condition.
Therapies that can help manage problems during sleep with obesity include:
You may be prescribed a device to use at home, and your healthcare provider will follow up with you to determine whether you need any adjustments to your treatment.
When to Consider Doing a Sleep Study
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s estimated that 1 in 7 adults worldwide have OSA.If you suspect you might have a sleep disorder, you can get an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms of disordered breathing during sleep can include:
If you have any of these symptoms, you should speak with a healthcare provider who can determine which diagnostic test you may need.
A polysomnogram(a diagnostic sleep study) includes several components. A comprehensive test can be carried out in an overnight sleep testing facility, but sometimes an at-home test can also be prescribed.
Components of a diagnostic sleep study include:
If you are having an at-home sleep study, you may be given a headband to wear. It may contain one or more built-in electrodes to detect your brain activity and sleep stages during sleep.
How to Know If You Snore
It can be hard to know if you snore because you are not fully conscious at that time. Someone in the same room while you’re sleeping might notice your snoring, however.
If you sleep alone and would like to know if you snore, you could consider setting up a recording device to record sounds while you’re sleeping. Various sleep apps can do this using your smartphone.
Forming Better Habits With Obesity and Sleep-Disordered Breathing
There are effective treatments for all types of sleep-disordered breathing. In addition to prescribed therapies, some lifestyle adjustments may help reduce sleep-disordered breathing.
Strategies that can improve sleep-disordered breathing if you have obesity include:
Summary
Sleep-disordered breathing and obesity have a bidirectional relationship, which means that each contributes to the risk of the other. Obesity can impact lung function, the muscles that control breathing, the opening of the airway, and hormones that affect breathing.
Disordered breathing and inadequate sleep can affect the body’s hormones, altering metabolism in ways thatcan contribute to obesity.These conditions can lead to several health consequences, including an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Sleep-disordered breathing has many effective treatments. Additionally, exercise and losing excess weight can help alleviate these sleep disruptions.If your condition is severe or lifestyle factors do not provide adequate improvement, your healthcare provider can prescribe therapy to help improve your breathing during sleep and to help you lose weight.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jehan S, Zizi F, Pandi-Perumal SR, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea and obesity: implications for public health.Sleep Med Disord. 2017;1(4):00019.Longlalerng K, Watanasiripakdee S, Jeenduang N, et al.Home-based aerobic interval training combined with resistance training improved daytime dysfunction in adults with obesity and sleep-disordered breathing.Sleep Sci.2024;17(2):e117-e124. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1777708Masa JF, Pépin JL, Borel JC, et al.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Eur Respir Rev.2019;28(151):180097. doi:10.1183/16000617.0097-2018Hynes D, Mansfield D.Diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults.Aust Prescr. 2024;47(2):52-56. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2024.010Foldvary-Schaefer NR, Waters TE.Sleep-disordered breathing.Continuum(Minneap Minn). 2017;23(4):1093-1116.Sleep Neurology. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000522245.13784.f6Farabi SS, Barbour LA, Hernandez TL.Sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy: a developmental origin of offspring obesity?J Dev Orig Health Dis.2021;12(2):237-249. doi:10.1017/S2040174420000355Lyons MM, Bhatt NY, Pack AI, Magalang UJ.Global burden of sleep-disordered breathing and its implications.Respirology. 2020;25(7):690-702. doi:10.1111/resp.13838Kryger MA, Chehata VJ.Relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and neurogenic obesity in adults with spinal cord injury.Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil.2021;27(1):84-91. doi:10.46292/sci20-00044
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jehan S, Zizi F, Pandi-Perumal SR, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea and obesity: implications for public health.Sleep Med Disord. 2017;1(4):00019.Longlalerng K, Watanasiripakdee S, Jeenduang N, et al.Home-based aerobic interval training combined with resistance training improved daytime dysfunction in adults with obesity and sleep-disordered breathing.Sleep Sci.2024;17(2):e117-e124. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1777708Masa JF, Pépin JL, Borel JC, et al.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Eur Respir Rev.2019;28(151):180097. doi:10.1183/16000617.0097-2018Hynes D, Mansfield D.Diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults.Aust Prescr. 2024;47(2):52-56. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2024.010Foldvary-Schaefer NR, Waters TE.Sleep-disordered breathing.Continuum(Minneap Minn). 2017;23(4):1093-1116.Sleep Neurology. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000522245.13784.f6Farabi SS, Barbour LA, Hernandez TL.Sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy: a developmental origin of offspring obesity?J Dev Orig Health Dis.2021;12(2):237-249. doi:10.1017/S2040174420000355Lyons MM, Bhatt NY, Pack AI, Magalang UJ.Global burden of sleep-disordered breathing and its implications.Respirology. 2020;25(7):690-702. doi:10.1111/resp.13838Kryger MA, Chehata VJ.Relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and neurogenic obesity in adults with spinal cord injury.Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil.2021;27(1):84-91. doi:10.46292/sci20-00044
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jehan S, Zizi F, Pandi-Perumal SR, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea and obesity: implications for public health.Sleep Med Disord. 2017;1(4):00019.Longlalerng K, Watanasiripakdee S, Jeenduang N, et al.Home-based aerobic interval training combined with resistance training improved daytime dysfunction in adults with obesity and sleep-disordered breathing.Sleep Sci.2024;17(2):e117-e124. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1777708Masa JF, Pépin JL, Borel JC, et al.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Eur Respir Rev.2019;28(151):180097. doi:10.1183/16000617.0097-2018Hynes D, Mansfield D.Diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults.Aust Prescr. 2024;47(2):52-56. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2024.010Foldvary-Schaefer NR, Waters TE.Sleep-disordered breathing.Continuum(Minneap Minn). 2017;23(4):1093-1116.Sleep Neurology. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000522245.13784.f6Farabi SS, Barbour LA, Hernandez TL.Sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy: a developmental origin of offspring obesity?J Dev Orig Health Dis.2021;12(2):237-249. doi:10.1017/S2040174420000355Lyons MM, Bhatt NY, Pack AI, Magalang UJ.Global burden of sleep-disordered breathing and its implications.Respirology. 2020;25(7):690-702. doi:10.1111/resp.13838Kryger MA, Chehata VJ.Relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and neurogenic obesity in adults with spinal cord injury.Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil.2021;27(1):84-91. doi:10.46292/sci20-00044
Jehan S, Zizi F, Pandi-Perumal SR, et al.Obstructive sleep apnea and obesity: implications for public health.Sleep Med Disord. 2017;1(4):00019.
Longlalerng K, Watanasiripakdee S, Jeenduang N, et al.Home-based aerobic interval training combined with resistance training improved daytime dysfunction in adults with obesity and sleep-disordered breathing.Sleep Sci.2024;17(2):e117-e124. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1777708
Masa JF, Pépin JL, Borel JC, et al.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Eur Respir Rev.2019;28(151):180097. doi:10.1183/16000617.0097-2018
Hynes D, Mansfield D.Diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults.Aust Prescr. 2024;47(2):52-56. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2024.010
Foldvary-Schaefer NR, Waters TE.Sleep-disordered breathing.Continuum(Minneap Minn). 2017;23(4):1093-1116.Sleep Neurology. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000522245.13784.f6
Farabi SS, Barbour LA, Hernandez TL.Sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy: a developmental origin of offspring obesity?J Dev Orig Health Dis.2021;12(2):237-249. doi:10.1017/S2040174420000355
Lyons MM, Bhatt NY, Pack AI, Magalang UJ.Global burden of sleep-disordered breathing and its implications.Respirology. 2020;25(7):690-702. doi:10.1111/resp.13838
Kryger MA, Chehata VJ.Relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and neurogenic obesity in adults with spinal cord injury.Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil.2021;27(1):84-91. doi:10.46292/sci20-00044
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