Can Weight Loss Cure Sleep Apnea?

In the United States there are more than twelve million people that are suffering from sleep apnea, one of the most common side effects of obesity and being overweight. Over the last several years doctors have told us that the best way to cure the sleep apnea problem is to simply lose the weight. Unfortunately, there have been little studies that have been able to prove this theory.

A recent study combined the efforts of seven universities to determine what effects losing weight would have on sleep apnea. This study was a random test of two hundred sixty four patients with Type 2 diabetes. The testing revealed that the patients that lost the weight were about three times more likely reduce or eliminate the effects of sleep apnea as opposed to those that did not lost a decent amount of weight.

The group of 264 patients studied ranged in ages from forty five through seventy five and were split into two testing groups. One group received group behavioral meetings and was put into a monitored fitness program with regular doctor follow-ups. The second group attending a total of three group meetings over the course of a year to talk about diet management and other ways to lose weight and control their diabetes. After a year, the two groups were analyzed and reviewed to determine the results.

At the one year point, the members of the first groups lost an average of twenty four pounds each through following the exercise program and having regular follow-ups to monitor progress and keep them honest with their routine. The second group lost an average of no weight and many had increased complications with their sleep apnea for they had no set plan to work with or follow-ups to keep them on track.

Dr. Foster goes on to say that the results of the testing showed that weight loss does in fact have a significant role in the reduction of sleep apnea and that the overall effect of improved health is apparent with the loss of severe weight levels in their patients. It has been shown time and again that people tend to cheat on diets if they have no one to own to about what they are doing on a regular basis. Most of us cannot lose the weight on our own and we need to reach out for the support of friends and family to help us achieve our physical goals. There are many programs in cities all over the country as well as online where people can hide their real identity and still have the ability to open and share their struggles with others to help them through the hard times. Together we can succeed!