Is there a link between obesity and sleepiness?

Obesity is a health condition that can cause several changes in the metabolism, which may lead to issues with sleep quality and daytime sleepiness.
Obesity is linked to many factors, such as stress, environmental factors, overall health, and genetics. These factors can disrupt sleep quality and, along with obesity, may cause daytime sleepiness. Obesity can also cause metabolic changes that may disrupt sleep-wake cycles, affecting sleepiness.
This article will review the link between obesity and sleepiness, how they can influence each other, the sleep concerns people with obesity may have, and how people can improve their sleep quality.
Is there a link between obesity and sleepiness?
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Obesity is linked to sleepiness. Several studies have demonstrated how people with obesity may experience sleepiness during the day, even if they sleep through the night. This can occur anytime during the day but is more common after eating.
studies
This may link to some changes that can occur in the metabolism of people with obesity, which can cause issues with sleep quality and disrupt the sleep-wake cycles, also known as circadian cycles.
An older 2017 study found that daytime sleepiness in people with obesity may result from the combination of the inflammatory effect that high cytokine levels can cause and the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
An older 2017 study
What defines obesity?
Obesity is a health condition that involves having too much body fat. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 indicates overweight, and over 30 means obese. High BMI caused about 5 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths in 2019.
over 30
Obesity is one part of the malnutrition problem and can cause several health complications.
More people are now obese than underweight in every region of the world except South-East Asia. Once a high income country issue, many middle-income countries now have the highest overweight and obesity rates globally.
Overweight and obesity rates have risen in adults and children. From 1990 to 2022, childhood obesity quadrupled from 2% to 8% globally, while adult obesity more than doubled from 7% to 16%.
How obesity can affect sleep
Individuals with obesity report more insomnia and sleep difficulties than those with normal weight.
insomnia
Studies find that obesity is linked to increased daytime sleepiness and fatigue, even with undisturbed nighttime sleep. Researchers believe obesity might alter metabolism or sleep-wake cycles, affecting sleep quality.
Studies
fatigue
The physical effects of excess weight could also impact sleep, increasing the risk of several sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Excess fat can put additional pressure on a person’s airways, making breathing difficult, especially when lying down.
sleep apnea
Sleep deprivation and obesity
Sleep deprivation disrupts hormone balance, promoting overeating and weight gain.
disrupts
Leptin and ghrelin, appetite-regulating hormones, experience altered production during sleep deprivation, increasing hunger. Growth hormone deficiency and elevated cortisol levels, both linked to obesity, also occur.
Sleep loss and issues with sleep quality further impair food metabolism. Sleep deprivation may also affect a person’s food choices, with people opting for higher calorie foods. This might result from daytime sleepiness and fatigue caused by insufficient sleep.
Sleep concerns and obesity
Obesity can cause sleep difficulties and sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, or make other underlying conditions worse, such as asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
can cause
asthma
gastroesophageal reflux disease
If a person has obesity and experiences difficulties sleeping or the symptoms of any of these conditions, they should speak with a doctor.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that involves partial or complete airway collapse, leading to loud snoring and nighttime breathing problems.
Sleep apnea can cause the breathing to stop and start while sleeping, which can increase the risk for several health complications over time, including:
including
asthma
cancer
cancer
chronic kidney disease
chronic kidney disease
metabolic syndrome
metabolic syndrome
type 2 diabetes
type 2 diabetes
high blood pressure
high blood pressure
stroke
stroke
heart attack and heart failure
heart attack
heart failure
People with obesity have a higher chance of developing OSA as carrying extra weight not only increases OSA risk but also worsens symptoms.
A 2023 study reported that about 40% of people with obesity develop OSA, with the prevalence of OSA ramping up to 90% in people severely obese who have a BMI higher than 40.
40%
Asthma is a respiratory condition that develops when inflammation affects the airways. Obesity increases asthma risk, and it can make its symptoms more severe. Many asthma patients experience nighttime symptoms, making falling and staying asleep more challenging.
increases
GERD is a chronic condition that causes stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Obesity can increase the risk of developing GERD. Because the symptoms of GERD worsen when lying down, this condition can make it more difficult to sleep and disrupt sleep quality.
heartburn
can increase
Ways to improve sleep with obesity
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should sleep for 7 to 9 hours daily. However, researchers estimate that around 1 in 3 people do not sleep enough. Individuals with difficulties sleeping should try practicing healthy sleeping habits to improve their sleep hygiene.
for 7 to 9 hours
around 1 in 3 people
healthy sleeping habits
To improve sleep quality, people should try:
should try
going to bed and getting up at a similar time every day to build up a consistent sleep-wake routine
avoiding using smartphones, laptops, or other electronic devices before going to sleep
removing electronic devices from the bedroom
sleeping in a quiet, relaxing, cozy, dark room
doing physical activity during the day but avoiding it right before going to sleep
avoiding eating large meals or caffeine consumption close to bedtime
Someone with consistent sleep difficulties or a sleep disorder should speak with a doctor.
Healthcare professionals can recommend suitable treatments to improve sleep quality, including therapy, supplements, or medications. If left untreated, sleep disorders can cause serious health complications.
Summary
Obesity can make people sleepy during the day. This may be due to a combination of comorbidities that can develop with this condition, changes in the metabolism, and issues with sleep quality associated with people with a significant excess weight.
Also, sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality can increase the risk of obesity, as tiredness and fatigue may increase cravings for high calorie foods. If a person frequently experiences sleeping difficulties, they should speak with a doctor to address the causes and get appropriate treatment.