Weight Gain Is Never Without a Reason

While unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle factors can cause our weight to increase gradually over time, certain medical conditions may also play a significant role. For this reason, a multidisciplinary approach is essential in the treatment of obesity. An individual’s medical diagnoses and blood test results help determine the most appropriate dietary plan. Alongside nutritional therapy, any existing medical condition must also be properly treated and monitored.

Obesity can lead to many health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, joint disorders, sleep apnea, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Obesity may have many causes, and it can also be the cause of many diseases. In this article, however, I would like to focus on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Sleep apnea and obesity are conditions that often exist in a vicious cycle. In patients with sleep apnea, obesity is seen as a primary risk factor in more than 40% of cases. A 10% increase in body weight raises the risk of sleep apnea sixfold.

Looking at its history, Charles Dickens—who lived in the early nineteenth century—was one of the first to vividly describe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. At that time, a wealthy Englishman named Samuel Pickwick founded a club in London called the “Pickwick Club.” A journalist assigned Dickens to write about the events taking place there. Dickens described the club’s staff and members in detail and published his observations under the title The Pickwick Papers. The members, including Samuel Pickwick himself, were portrayed as overweight individuals who snored loudly and frequently fell asleep at inappropriate times.

Initially, this condition was referred to as “Pickwickian Syndrome” and was thought to occur only in individuals with these characteristics. However, it was later understood that the condition could also be seen in people who did not fit this exact description.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is characterized by repeated episodes of airflow limitation or complete توقف due to airway collapse or narrowing during sleep. Sleep fragmentation leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, drowsiness, decreased work performance, and an increased risk of occupational and traffic accidents, as well as various recurring health problems.

What Are the Symptoms?

• Restlessness during sleep

• Snoring

• Frequent nighttime urination

• Sweating

• Dry mouth

• Reflux

• Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep

• Headaches and forgetfulness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Depression

• Waking up feeling unrefreshed

If you experience the symptoms listed above and also have accompanying conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, or heart disease, you should definitely consult a neurology or neurophysiology specialist. This condition may be the reason why your efforts with long-term diet and exercise have not produced the desired results.

Once diagnosed and treated appropriately by your physician, combining medical treatment with a structured and adequate nutrition program can lead to very positive outcomes.

Stay healthy and energized.