Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea and weight are closely linked
Excess weight is one of the main risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and most people who have it have never been diagnosed. Find out where to start, or add medical weight management to the care you already have.
Think you might have sleep apnea?
Talk to our team about getting assessed. We can help arrange a referral to a sleep clinic we work with.
Already diagnosed?
See how MWM’s weight management care works alongside your sleep specialist’s treatment.
Did you know?
Many people have sleep apnea and don’t know it
About 1 in 4
Canadian adults aged 45 to 85 are estimated to have moderate to severe OSA.1
More than 9 in 10
people at high risk have never been diagnosed.1
Your next step
How MWM can help you get assessed
Symptoms alone cannot confirm sleep apnea. If you are an MWM patient, we can help you access an assessment through a sleep clinic we work with.
1
Talk to our team
Tell us about your symptoms and we’ll explain your options.
2
Get a referral
If a sleep assessment is recommended, we can arrange a referral to a sleep clinic.*
3
Arrange your sleep study
You’ll be guided through available sleep testing options, including home and in-lab studies, and can choose the option that best suits your needs.
* MWM has a non-exclusive shared-care relationship with the Sleep Endoscopy Centre for Snoring and Sleep Apnea. Patients are free to choose another sleep-care provider.
Not an MWM patient?
We are only able to arrange sleep clinic referrals for patients receiving care through MWM. If you are concerned about sleep apnea, speak with your primary care doctor about assessment and referral options.
Where weight management fits in
How weight and sleep apnea are connected
Body fat around the neck and upper airway can make the airway more likely to narrow or close during sleep. That is why excess weight is one of the main risk factors for OSA. It isn’t the only one, and not everyone with OSA lives with obesity.
10% weight loss
In one long-term study, this was linked to about 26% fewer breathing pauses per hour of sleep.2 Results vary from person to person.
1
Weight
Body fat around the neck and upper airway
2
Airway
More likely to narrow or close during sleep
3
Sleep
Breathing pauses and broken sleep
Part of your plan, not a replacement
MWM provides medical treatment for obesity and dietitian-led behavioural support, working alongside the treatment your sleep specialist has prescribed.
Keep using your prescribed treatment, including CPAP, and talk to your care team before making changes.
Understand obstructive sleep apnea
What happens during OSA
With OSA, the upper airway repeatedly narrows or becomes blocked during sleep, interrupting breathing. Each pause can lower the oxygen in your blood and briefly wake your brain, often without you noticing.
Adapted from “Sleep apnea” by Osmosis, via Wikimedia Commons. Excerpt: 00:27–01:27, trimmed and converted to MP4. Original and adapted clip licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Common signs of OSA
- Restless or disrupted sleep
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Breathing pauses noticed by a bed partner
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
Symptoms alone don’t confirm sleep apnea. Only a sleep assessment can diagnose it.
Why it matters
How sleep apnea affects your health
Heart health
Linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat and stroke.
Blood sugar
Linked to insulin resistance, which can make blood sugar harder to manage.
Mood and focus
Linked to low mood, difficulty concentrating and memory problems.
Alertness and safety
Daytime sleepiness can raise the risk of accidents when driving or working.
How MWM fits
Care that works together
Your sleep apnea care
Your sleep specialist and primary care doctor guide your assessment, treatment and ongoing sleep apnea care.
+
Your weight management care with MWM
Your MWM physician and registered dietitian support you with medical treatment and behavioural strategies.
Working alongside your prescribed sleep apnea treatment.
Common questions
Questions about sleep apnea and weight
What should I do if I think I have sleep apnea but have not been diagnosed?
Speak with your primary care doctor about symptoms such as loud snoring, breathing pauses noticed by someone else, or daytime sleepiness. They can assess your symptoms and arrange sleep testing when appropriate. Our team can also help explain your assessment options. Symptoms alone cannot confirm a diagnosis.
Can MWM help me access a sleep apnea assessment?
Yes. Speak with our team and we can explain how a referral to a sleep clinic we work with may fit your situation.
Do I need to keep using my CPAP while working on my weight?
Yes, unless your sleep specialist tells you otherwise. Weight management works alongside the treatment you have been prescribed; it does not replace it.
Can I stop using CPAP if I lose weight?
Please do not stop or change your treatment on your own. Sleep apnea can improve for some people who lose weight, but any treatment change should be guided by your sleep specialist.
Should I wait until I lose weight before treating my sleep apnea?
No. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to serious long-term health problems, so get assessed and follow the treatment your care team recommends. Weight management can be added alongside it.
Can weight management improve sleep apnea?
It may help some people. In one long-term study, losing 10% of body weight was linked to about 26% fewer breathing pauses per hour of sleep. Results vary, and weight management cannot guarantee that sleep apnea will resolve.
Take the next step for your sleep health
Not diagnosed yet? Speak to our team about an assessment. Already diagnosed? See if MWM’s weight management care fits your plan.
Sources
- Prevalence and regional distribution of obstructive sleep apnea in Canada: Analysis from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2024. View study
- Peppard PE, Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J. Longitudinal study of moderate weight change and sleep-disordered breathing. JAMA, 2000;284(23):3015–3021.