Nov 11th 2021
Does CPAP Cause Weight Gain?
Sleep apnea patients commonly wonder if CPAP causes weight gain. While this treatment does a lot to improve sleep quality and keep you healthy all night long, it can be somewhat alarming to think it prompts weight gain, so it's essential to know the facts surrounding this question. Continue reading below to learn more information surrounding the topic.
CPAP Treatment Promotes Weight Loss
"Does CPAP cause weight gain?" is commonly asked by patients receiving CPAP treatment. It's a well-known and documented fact that poor sleep can prompt weight gain. For that reason, many believe that a sleep apnea patient who uses a CPAP machine for regular therapy will lose weight since it leads to an improved night's sleep. Several factors contribute to this theory.
Decreased Oxygen Levels
Some patients experience a condition from sleep apnea that causes their breathing to stop. This condition is detrimental to the patient's health; it can also negatively impact their sleep if they don't receive proper CPAP treatment. Poor sleep leads to extreme fatigue during the day, which may prevent you from getting enough exercise. This fatigue can make it harder to stay on a diet, as a constant state of exhaustion may demotivate you from sticking to your eating plan.
Having sleep apnea but not treating the condition also instills fear for those suffering from it and their loved ones. This fear stems from the idea of their breathing stopping and the possibility of it not starting again. This fear can cause many sleepless nights for the person experiencing sleep apnea and their partner.
Hormone Effects
Lack of consistent sleep causes more damage than you might think. Not getting restorative rest impacts crucial hormones that are responsible for regulating appetites. Two of these hormones are leptin and ghrelin. Sleep apnea can lower your leptin level, which signals to your brain that you're full and should stop eating. Furthermore, it increases levels of ghrelin, which is known to be the hunger hormone. This increased hormone amount will trick you into thinking you're still hungry, leading to excessive eating and unwanted weight gain.
What to Know About CPAP Weight Loss
Now that you understand how untreated sleep apnea can lead to weight gain, obesity, and accompanying health problems, now you can learn how CPAP promotes weight loss.
How Does a CPAP Machine Work?
CPAP machines provide a constant stream of oxygen to hold your airways open while you sleep. The machine is a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), and it provides the oxygen your body needs to mentally and physically rest.
Increased Energy Levels
Effectively treating sleep apnea restores your energy and can even improve your overall mood. This change in vitality and mood can motivate you to work out and be more active during the day. Harnessing the energy to go on a daily walk, cook healthier, or hit the gym can make a big difference in maintaining healthy body weight.
Balanced Hormones
As previously mentioned, an unwanted decrease of leptin and an undesirable increase of ghrelin hormones is typical for sleep apnea patients. CPAP machine usage assists in regulating these hormones because it allows you to receive more productive sleep.
This hormone regulation results in a more regulated appetite and steadier energy levels, leading to more effective fat burning. This hormone change also means that you'll crave junk food less, which certainly aids in weight loss.
Does CPAP Cause Weight Gain for Some Users?
As with most medical treatments or medicines, there's no guarantee that every patient will have the same experience. Some CPAP users may experience weight gain instead of loss. There have been studies that indicate some users experience weight gain while using CPAP.
One possible reason for CPAP use weight gain is that some patients may not experience apneas throughout the night. This situation could result in your body not burning as many calories since it doesn't have to work to restore airflow.
One study indicated that weight gained during CPAP therapy is lean body mass (LBM), which is not harmful. Instead, LBM is a positive weight gain that can improve your overall health and increase your exercise capacity.
A more recent study notes that there's no definitive link between CPAP use and weight gain.
While it's possible that CPAP use could lead to weight gain for some users, the jury is still out on how likely and prominent that connection is. It's far more likely that the quality sleep you enjoy thanks to your CPAP therapy will, in turn, allow you to shed unwanted pounds and maintain a healthy body weight.
Purchasing a CPAP Machine to Promote Healthy Sleep
Finding the right CPAP machine is an essential part of the process of treating your sleep apnea since CPAP use can help you lose weight and feel healthier overall. We understand that you want to buy your machine from a reliable and trustworthy CPAP supplier. Our team is ready to help you find what you need to ensure a good night's rest and more energy to stay active and healthy.
