title: The relationship of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder, and obesity is a known risk factor for its development. The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and a corresponding increase in the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and its cardiovascular and noncardiovascular consequences is likely. This article reviews the established evidence supporting obesity as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea and discusses the evidence suggesting that obesity is also a consequence of obstructive sleep apnea. There is evidence that treating obesity reduces the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and that treating obstructive sleep apnea decreases obesity. However, the evidence does not support a sustained correlation between weight loss and improvement in sleep-disordered breathing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Centennial Building Suite 423, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
authors.forename: Neomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015431:Weight Loss