More than half of people with obstructive sleep apnea are either overweight or obese. This means they have a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 or 30.0 or above, respectively. In adults, extra weight is the biggest risk factor associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
Although modest weight loss improves obstructive sleep apnea, it can be difficult for exhausted patients to lose weight. In extremely obese patients, bariatric surgery is associated with an 85% success rate in improving the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.