Obesity and OSA

Here are the results of a few studies looking at obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. There is a clear and strong link between obesity and sleep apnea.

Fat deposits in the neck narrow the airway, greatly increasing the chance of acquiring sleep apnea. OSA is seen as a disease of obesity, and this is a fair assumption. But don’t be fooled, not all of OSA patients are obese.

Certain Asian populations have a equal susceptibility to OSA as the U.S. despite having much lower rates of obesity. This is likely due to Cranial Facial differences. Looking at the first study, remember that although 2/3 of the participants were obese, 1/3 were within 30% of their ideal bodyweight.