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The Hidden Loop: How Obesity Fuels Sleep Apnea — and Vice Versa

June 24, 2025

It’s a health spiral few people see coming — but once you’re caught in it, it can be hard to escape. Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are deeply interconnected, and they often feed off each other in ways that make both conditions harder to manage.

In Australia, more than 31% of adults are obese, and a further 35.5% are overweight.1 OSA, which affects between 20% of the adult population (with higher rates in men and older people), is a sleep disorder marked by repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night.2 These pauses can happen hundreds of times during sleep, leaving people exhausted, foggy, and struggling through the day.

Obesity: The Most Powerful Risk Factor

Obesity is the strongest risk factor for developing OSA.3 In fact, about 58% of moderate-to-severe cases of OSA are caused by excess weight.3 Why? Because fat can accumulate around the upper airway, narrowing the space and making it more likely to collapse during sleep.4 Fat around the chest and abdomen (known as truncal obesity) also reduces lung volume and increases breathing effort — further worsening sleep quality.4

Even a 10% gain in body weight can increase your risk of OSA sixfold, while losing the same amount can reduce OSA severity by more than 20%.5

But It Works Both Ways

Here’s where it gets more complicated. OSA doesn’t just result from obesity — it can cause it too.3

When your sleep is fragmented, your hormones go into disarray.6 Leptin, the hormone that normally tells your brain you're full, stops working as it should. Ghrelin, the hormone that makes you feel hungry, increases. This one-two punch means you’re likely to eat more, crave high-carb foods, and never quite feel satisfied. Add in the overwhelming fatigue that comes with poor sleep, and it’s easy to see how physical activity takes a back seat.6

As a result, many people gain weight rapidly — often just before an OSA diagnosis — and find themselves stuck in a loop: poor sleep leading to weight gain, and weight gain worsening sleep.3

Breaking the Cycle

The good news? There’s a way out. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is a highly effective treatment for OSA.3 It works by a bedside machine which gently blows air through a mask to keep the airway open throughout the night, eliminating symptoms.

If you're struggling with snoring, constant tiredness, or unexplained weight gain, don’t ignore it. Talk to your doctor about getting a sleep study. Addressing OSA could be the key to reclaiming your health — and your sleep.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time.

If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply.

References

  1. Meyer, Emily J, and Gary Wittert. “Approach the Patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 109, no. 3, 27 Sept. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad572.
  2. “Weight-Loss Medication Treats Sleep Apnea.” Woolcock.org.au, 2024, www.woolcock.org.au/news/weight-loss-medication-treats-sleep-apnea.
  3. Practitioners, The Royal Australian College of General. “Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Obesity.” Australian Family Physician, 7 July 2017, www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/july/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-and-obesity.
  4. Romero-Corral, Abel, et al. “Interactions between Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” Chest, vol. 137, no. 3, Mar. 2010, pp. 711–719, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3021364/, https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-0360.
  5. Romero-Corral, Abel, et al. “Interactions between Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” Chest, vol. 137, no. 3, Mar. 2010, pp. 711–719, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3021364/, https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-0360.
  6. Edwards, Jennifer M. “The Complex Relationship between Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 31 May 2022, www.healthline.com/health/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea-weight-gain#takeaway. Accessed 23 June 2025.