Obesity is a global and ever-growing problem. By 2030, nearly 20% of the world’s population is expected to be obese leading to a range of health conditions, including sleep apnea and other respiratory diseases.
In 2022, 504 million women and 374 million men were classified as obese. That is almost four times as many people as thirty years ago. According to the World Health Organization, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 falls within the healthy weight range.
The accumulation of fat due to obesity can lead to a narrowing of the upper airways, resulting in reduced airflow. This can make it difficult for a person to breathe normally. Sleep apnea causes breathing to be irregular or to stop completely for certain periods of the night.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of other respiratory conditions, as well as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
