Research
Energy balance
Obesity contributes to OSAS pathogenesis by causing upper airway narrowing due to fat deposition in the pharynx and thoracic cavity, reducing vital capacity, and altering ventilation-perfusion ratios.
Losing weight can mechanically open your airway by reducing fat deposition in the neck and pharynx. This is a primary treatment strategy for OSAS, especially if you are overweight.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Obesity is a major factor contributing to the compression of the respiratory tract through an increase in the area and volume of fat deposition in the pharynx, and fat deposition in the upper airways and around the thoracic cavity may promote the development of OSAS.
Why this rating
Review article citing epidemiological and mechanistic studies.
Source
Pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Renjun Lv et al. · Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · 2023
DOI 10.1038/s41392-023-01496-3
narrative_reviewCited 412×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Nocturnal rostral fluid shift, where fluid accumulated in the legs during the day redistributes to the neck upon lying down, increases tissue pressure and upper airway collapsibility, predisposing individuals to OSAS.Good
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