Kari Johansson, MD, PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, who led the study stated, "Our findings suggest that weight loss may be an effective treatment strategy for sleep apnea in obese men.”
To evaluate the effect of weight loss in eliminating the sleeping disorder in obese men, researchers enrolled 63 obese men (body mass index
30-40) in the age bracket of 30-65 years.
The participants suffered from moderate to severe sleep apnea as measured by the AHI (apnea-hypopnea) index.
A randomized controlled trial
The subjects were split into two groups. One was assigned to a very low calorie diet (VLCD) for seven weeks to promote weight loss, followed by two weeks of gradual re-introduction to normal diet. The second, forming the control group followed a routine diet for a period of nine weeks.
During the course of the study, the two groups underwent regular clinical examinations to measure weight, waist circumference, and body fat. Patients were screened by experts to ensure they were adhering to the recommended diet. The intervention group also went through counseling sessions.
Observations by researchers
At the close of the study, the researchers noted the intervention group had lost an average of 19 kilos while the control group lost 1.1 kg. In addition, the number of apnea events declined to half in patients on the weight loss diet.
Above all, none of the patients had severe sleep apnea, half had only mild sleep disorder while one in six were declared healthy.
The investigators observed a co-relation between weight loss and change in AHI with the maximum improvement exhibited in patients with severe sleep disorder.
Expert advice
Johansson stated, “We often use VLCD in the form of a low calorie powder as part of the treatment of obese patients with a serious comorbidity, such as sleep apnea. The powder is mixed with water and replaces every meal of the day, which gives a rapid loss of weight. It’s also a good way of boosting the patients’ motivation.”
However, the researchers do not recommend VLCD diet to tackle weight problems. Rather they advise patients to lose the flab through lifestyle modifications by adhering to a healthy diet and following a fitness regime.
The research was sponsored by Cambridge Manufacturing Company Limited, which markets the Cambridge Diet, the low-calorie powder used in the study.
The study was published in the December 4 issue of British Medical Journal.
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