Sleep Apnea Increase Obesity Risk

Posted on January 28, 2008 in Latest News

A recent study reveals that the number of hours slept has an influence on the risk of obesity. The less we sleep, the more at risk we are. This fact could explain why people who suffer from sleep apnea, a known thief of sleep, tend to gain weight at an above normal rate.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea refers to episodes of apnea (not breathing) lasting more than 10 seconds that occur while sleeping. These episodes, which can occur hundreds of times per night, lead to transient awakening with resulting fragmentation of sleep. During these apneic periods, the levels of oxygen can drop to dangerously low levels and can result in cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart beats), which can at times be fatal. Additionally, individuals with sleep apnea are much more prone to heart attacks and strokes.

Obesity risks

A study, conducted by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Obesity Research Center, suggests a link between the risk of being obese and the number of hours of sleep each night. Other factors, such as physical activity, age and depression, to name a few, made no difference to the weight gain.

Experts opine that this has some obvious relation with two hormone – leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite, and Grehlin, a hormone that increases food intake and is thought to play a role in long-term regulation of body weight. Sleep deprivation lowers the levels of leptin and raises levels of grehlin.

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