Hope things start looking better for you.

Thanks for the anecdotal evidence, but there are also some good studies recently published that show untreated sleep apnea causes weight gain. The studies primarily focus on sleep apnea causing insulin resistance which in turn causes weight gain.

But just intuitively, if you have untreated sleep apnea you are chronically fatigued and this will cause you to be less active in just your routine daily life.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is primarily a problem of a narrow jaw causing a narrow airway. Many thin people have OSA. Weight issues can complicate the problem

It is known that in the last few hundred years the jaw has narrowed in the general population. This has caused various problems such as airway narrowing and crowding of the teeth.

I am curious about what has caused the jaw narrowing. Some propose that the development a few centuries ago of mills which would grind grains very finely led to the problem. Finely-ground grains allowed breads, pastas and other grain products to be consumed widely in large quantities. This products require very little chewing to get the daily calorie requirements. I don't know if this hypothesis is true and I would like to read some evidence about it. The finely-ground grains have certainly contributed to other problems like obesity and type 2 diabetes.

After being on the CPap for a couple of weeks, my youngest brother who was probably 8 at the time hugged her and said, "You are such a much happier mom since you have been sucking that oxygen." it was funny, but just goes to prove how much of your life and everything about you can be affected by this.

Best wishes

Once you understand much of what sleep apnea is doing to your mind and body, you will begin to understand how it is causing weight gain.

If you get a good CPAP therapy working and minimize the number of apneic events, you will find it easier to lose weight. And you should exercise and eat a good diet along with the CPAP therapy. CPAP will allow your energy level and your resolve to return to normal. This will make it easier to exercise and pay attention to what you are eating. It will help cut down on the food cravings.

John, I highly recommend you become a member of cpaptalk dot com. Get involved there, get an education, and ask fellow CPAPers questions. Those good guys save my life.

BTW, since starting CPAP, I lowered my BMI to 21 and have become a fit, trail-running, mountain-climbing, weight-lifting, 60-year old. But I still need my CPAP every minute I sleep.

"Healthy awake, deathly ill asleep."

Good luck.

One note though. From what they tell me, once you start using it, you won't be able to sleep without one. My friends who need a CPAP even have to take it camping!

Through my work I have had a small amount of contact with people who have OSA treated with CPAP, and I know that some have described CPAP therapy as life changing, as getting a better nights sleep gives them so much more energy, etc.

I hope that this will be your experience too.

Best wishes