Why Sleep Apnea Could Be Sabotaging Your Weight Goals (And How to Fix It)
Dr. Martin Hopp MD, ENT
Feeling tired all the time? Struggling with cravings, low energy, or weight that won’t budge no matter what you try?
It may not be “just stress” or “getting older.” The real issue could be sleep apnea, and it’s more common (and treatable) than most people think. In fact, over 80% of people who have it don't even know it.
The metabolic impact of poor sleep night after night is real. Sleep apnea is linked to:
- Insulin resistance
- Higher blood sugar
- Visceral fat gain
- Increased inflammation
All of which increase your risk for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Key Insight: People with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to gain weight AND have more difficulty losing it.
Identify sleep apnea accurately from the comfort of home. Save on At-Home Sleep Testing now $79 $159.95. Enter code SMARTNEWS at checkout.
Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain: The Overlooked Connection
Sleep apnea disrupts your body’s metabolism, affecting key hormones such as:
- Ghrelin, which increases appetite
- Leptin, which controls fullness
- Cortisol, your stress hormone
- Serotonin, which plays a role in mood and motivation
When these are off balance, you’re more likely to:
- Crave sugary or high-calorie foods
- Feel too drained to exercise
- Feel irritable, stressed, or unmotivated
- Gain weight and struggle to lose it
Sound familiar? Poor sleep raises ghrelin, which increases hunger and cravings. Meanwhile, low leptin makes you feel less full after eating. Then you have low mood and no energy to exercise or do much more than just make it through your day. Or maybe you stress, crash on the couch, and reach for comfort foods. Together, this cycle creates a perfect storm of overeating and sluggish metabolism = weight gain.
And no, willpower isn’t the issue. Your body becomes imbalanced when your sleep is disrupted night after night.
Take a free 30-second assessment to check your risk for sleep apnea.
Why You’re Too Tired to Exercise
If you're constantly tired, you are probably having trouble just getting through your work day, so working out feels that much harder. Sleep apnea leads to chronic daytime fatigue, which makes workouts feel impossible to get through. Even everyday activity drops, slowing your metabolism further.
You may want to lose weight but your body just can’t keep up.
The first step is to get tested and diagnosed. If sleep apnea is impacting your health goals, there are several different options for treatment.
Daybreak offers an FDA-cleared home sleep test so you can get the answers you need
Save on At-Home Sleep Testing now $79 $159.95. Enter code SMARTNEWS at checkout. No sleep labs or hassles. A board-certified physician will provide a diagnosis, detailed sleep health report and personalized recommendations.
The best kept secret to sleep apnea treatment
When most people think of sleep apnea treatment, CPAP usually comes to mind. While CPAP machines are the most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea, there are other options. For example, oral device therapy may be a better fit for your lifestyle and ultimately lead to increased treatment compliance.
Custom-fit oral devices are the modern way to treat snoring and sleep apnea. Also known as Mandibular Advancement Devices, they were developed by doctors and dentists who specialize in sleep medicine and have been proven effective for decades. The device is FDA-cleared and fits like a retainer. It's nearly invisible when worn and gently lifts your jaw, keeping your airway open while you sleep so you can get rest without masks, hoses, noises or electricity to bother you or your partner.
The reason you probably haven't heard of this before is because in the past, the process to get one involved multiple steps including doctors, sleep labs, dentists, and insurance hoops. But now you get tested and treated for sleep apnea without a single in-office appointment.
Daybreak brings all the experts to you in one place
Daybreak delivers testing and treatment straight to your door and handles everything. Yes, even the insurance part. Click below for a free coverage check.
✅ Insurance accepted
✅ FSA/HSA eligible
✅ Patient Care Guarantee
Summary: Why Sleep Apnea Could Be Blocking Your Healthy Weight Goals
- It disrupts hormones that regulate hunger and fat storage
- It drains energy, lowering physical activity
- It causes metabolic changes that make weight gain more likely
- It’s often undiagnosed but easy to test for and fully treatable
“I Didn’t Realize My Sleep Was Behind It All”
Many people discover that improving sleep helps improve everything else: energy, appetite, and even mental clarity. Treating sleep apnea won’t magically make you lose weight, but it may be the missing key to getting your motivation and metabolism back on track.
The bottom line? If you’re exhausted, struggling to keep up healthy behaviors, and nothing seems to work, it's time to check your sleep. Don't let sleep apnea hold you back and impact your long-term health.
Save on At-Home Sleep Testing now $79 $159.95 with code SMARTNEWS