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Permalink Reply by Mary T on January 24, 2012 at 10:42am

Good question. I have lost almost 40 pounds now. I can nap without my cpap; however, I think my 'dependence' on the cpap will delay my wanting to even try to sleep at night without it. I tried, but I am so used to using it, I lay there and just wait to start to fall asleep and then wake up with an apnea episode because that was my pattern for so long. So, maybe I need to retrain my brain now but it's going to take a while to even attempt to do just that. Plus, I have gotten used to not having a 'clogged-up' nose when using the cpap because of the air pressure.

I, too, am interested in hearing from anyone who has successfully been able to stop using the cpap. I would like to be free from it but it's become a 'crutch'.

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Permalink Reply by Steven XXXX on January 24, 2012 at 10:49am

I have heard of that happenning, but the instances are very, very, very, few.

Most common effect of weight loss is an allowed pressure reduction.

But, in a lot of cases, it has no effect at all.

I am slowly losing weight, but have not lost enough to tell to what degree it will help, if any at all.

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Permalink Reply by Eric B. on January 24, 2012 at 11:01am

weight loss has definitely had an impact.  i continue to rely on my oral appliance, but weight loss has resulted in not needing a daily nap and not feeling like a zombie half the time.  i only went from 175 down to 159, but it has made a world of difference.  i also have much healthier eating habits, so i think i'm better off in many ways.  surprisingly, no doctor -- not any sleep doctor or any doctor -- ever told me to lose weight.  perhaps that was because on a BMI chart, i was just high normal.  but i am slight of build, so for me, i really was in need of weight loss.  it's a shame that doctors are in such a rush that they don't take a good look at the individual. 

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Permalink Reply by Wade Hampton on January 24, 2012 at 11:08am

I am not overweight at all, and I use the CPAP.   The doctor  did not recommend any

weight loss.  6'  at 190#.  I work out for endurance and weights.  But I do need the 

CPAP machine to sleep.

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Permalink Reply by Jay Polatnick on January 24, 2012 at 11:40am

A great question, but I'm not sure it's as simple as just 'losing weight'.  No doubt, it could help.   A great article on 'Metabolism and Weight Gain' and how to utilize oxygen more efficiently.

http://www.healthbyyourself.net/blog/?p=46

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Permalink Reply by Stacy Williams on January 24, 2012 at 11:44am

I would presume it would depend on why you are on it.  I don't have apnea, my issue has existed since I was a baby, once I fall asleep, I stop breathing deeply enough.  So, no matter what I weigh, I will need it.  My husband has been a horrible snorer since he was a kid, so no matter what his weight, he will likely need it.  And the need for one as people age is more prolific, as I understand it, as the soft palette becomes less rigid or however that works.  I htink it's a great target, but I wouldn't get hung up on the idea that you are ONLY on CPAP because of your weight - it's possible your weight is an indirect result of a sleep issue...

 

But that is just what was rattling around in my noggin, nothing scientific behind it.

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Permalink Reply by Deborah sita on January 24, 2012 at 11:49am

After lap band surgery about 18 months ago, I lost 90 lbs (and still losing) with the express intention of trying to get away from having to use my cpap. After 15 years of 100% compliance, believe me, I'm ready! The only change I've seen so far is a reduction in pressure settings. I am still hopeful that I can make the transition but not quite as optimistic as I was prior to surgery. I have another 50 lbs that I'd like to lose and maybe that will do the trick, who knows? I have family members who have sleep apnea and all of them, except one, is at a pretty healthy weight. They are still using a cpap so I'm guessing a reduction in pressure is all I'll really ever see.

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Permalink Reply by Clueless in Redwood Shores on January 24, 2012 at 12:31pm

My own theory is that bad sleep health and hygiene promote weight gain, not the other way around.

40 years ago, long before the advent of sleep medicine, I believe I suffered from apnea as a rail-thin teenager  (6'3", 155 lbs).  A high school teacher sent me to the infirmary for "inappropriate drowsiness" on several occasions in class -- this was a pattern that persisted -- at a party a college professor stated "I'll ask a tough question, let the class flounder around for awhile and then ask the person next to him to nudge Clueless and wake him up -- however asleep he appears to be he almost always has the right answer".  Repeating this story to a boss in my workplace after falling asleep in one too many meetings led to her insistence that I seek medical help -- the rest, as they say, is history. 

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Permalink Reply by kristine kirchner on January 24, 2012 at 12:40pm

Ive been of the cpap for 2 years. I didnt want to be on it to begin with.I only totally wake up 1 to 2 times a nite and use the restrom.It disturbed me more with the noise and stuff up my nose.I had already lost wait be4 using it.Plus I was told I wouldnt die in my sleep...so why bother

 

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Permalink Reply by Bing Jou on January 24, 2012 at 1:15pm

I was 186lbs and dropped to 162.  Planned to hit 155, but did not.  I am 172 now.  I tried jogging too, ran 6 miles a day.  I have never slept well without CPAP.  At 35 I realized I snored.  Noone ever complained about my snoring before that.  I did ask my doctor if exerccise and weight loss would help.  He replie, "it may."

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Croke on January 24, 2012 at 1:21pm

I asked my sleep Dr. this question. His response was that while

weight loss would be good for my health, it would take a 100 pound loss to make an apnea difference.( i could use a 100lb. loss but don't have the will).

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Permalink Reply by Clare on January 24, 2012 at 2:07pm

Good Question, I get this one from my Cpap pts all the time. Recent studies show a direct link to Apnea and the metabilism. With typical apnea patients, apparently the hormones Leptin and Ghenlin are out of balance and create problems such as needing snacks to stay awake, and prevent folks from being able to have a normal sense of 'satiation' or fullness. So the guilt of the weight issue is probably being re-thought by many Sleep Apnea experts. So - I always try to encourage my patients to have a over all healthy as possibe life style. And many have just naturally lost 20 -30 lbs, once they are compliant and sleep 6 or more hours with the Cpap.  

So as mentioned by several others here, I think the sleep apnnea contributes to the weight gain rather than vice versa. No doubt about it- the excess weight will compound the sleep apnea issue  .

But being that everything is linked in the body- It only stands to reason if one does not get proper amounts of REM sleep- it would eventually effect the metabolism.

I have many patients that have loss weight, mistakeningly think they no longer needed the Cpap, and end up gaining weight back and being back at square one, and wishing that they had never stopped! So, I think eventually Dr's will get away from making their patients feel guilt over the weight, and educate them on over all heathly life style. In the last 30 yrs as a RT, I have spoken to numerous pts re: weight loss. Only 1 male pt- that was super skinney any -ways claimed that lossing 20 lbs had stopped the apnea. And I suspect - that if he is still with us today to talk about it, must of gone back on the therapy- wishing he had never stopped. Perhaps all he needed would have been a slight pressure adjustment? In order to keep compliant.

Thanks for the question Mike.

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