Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Obese Adolescents: Effect of Long-term Weight Loss-Rehabilitation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sleep and Breathing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To test the effect of a long-term weight loss rehabilitation program in extremely obese adolescents on breathing parameters during sleep. Methods: Thirty-eight extremely obese [mean body mass index (BMI) 45.3 ± 7.9kg/m2] adolescents participated during a three- to nine-month period in an inpatient weight loss rehabilitation in a specialized long-term rehabilitation center. Breathing parameters were registered via a seven-channel portable screening device. Body weight and arterial blood pressure were measured before and after the long-term treatment. Results: Mean BMI decreased from 45.3 to 35.8 (p < 0.001), mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 89 mmHg to 81 mmHg (p = 0,002). Nine patients had a RDI of ≥5 and 30 patients a RDI of <5; the mean RDI decreased from 4.08 to 3.27 (n.s.). Within the group, the RDI was ≥5 and the mean RDI decreased from 10.3/h to 5.2/h (p = 0.02). The mean SaO2 increased from 93.65 to 95.35% (p = 0.003), lowest SaO2 increased from 72.14 to 73.19% (n.s.) and snoring frequency decreased from 37.56% of total sleep time (TST) to 32.86% of TST (n.s.). Conclusion: A long-term inpatient weight loss program has a positive effect on breathing parameters during sleep in extremely obese adolescents. However, the effect on apneic events and snoring is relatively minor compared to the effect on arterial oxygen saturation. The role of obesity in the origin of respiratory events and snoring in adolescents might be overestimated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Redline S, Tishler PV, Hans MG, et al. Racial differences in sleep-disordered breathing in African-Americans and Caucasians. AM J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;155:186–192

    Google Scholar 

  2. Redline S, Tishler PV, Schluchter M, et al. Risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing in children. Associations with obesity, race and respiratory problems. AM J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;159:1527–1532

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hochban W, Hoch B. Obstructive sleep apnea in the child: An interdisciplinary treatment concept with special reference to craniofacial changes. Pneumologie 1998;52:147–153

    Google Scholar 

  4. Johns FR, Strohlo PJ, Buckley M, Constantino J. The influence of craniofacial structure on obstructive sleep apnea in young adults. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1998;56:596–602

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chin K, Ohi M. Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Intern Med 1999;38:200–202

    Google Scholar 

  6. Miro Castillo N, Rocas-Ribas Serda F, Quesada Martinez JL, Perello Scherdel E. Morphological comparative imaging of the pharynx in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), healthy snores and controls. Acta Otorhinolaringol Esp 1998;49:34–40

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lonergan RP IIIrd, Ware JC, Atkinson RL, Winter WC, Suratt PM. Sleep apnea in obese miniature pigs. J Appl Physiol 1998;84:531–6

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rollheim J, Osnes T, Miljeteig H. The relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and body mass index. Clin Otolaryngol 1997;22:419–422

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kuhl W. History of clinical research on the sleep apnea syndrome. The early days of polysomnography. Respiration 1997;64 Suppl 1:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brander PE, Mortimore IL, Douglas NJ. Effect of obesity and erect/supine posture on lateral cephalometry: Relationship to sleep disordered breathing. Eur Respir J 1999;13:398–402

    Google Scholar 

  11. Slyper AH. Childhood obesity, adipose tissue distribution and the pediatric practitioner. Pediatrics 1998;102:e4

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guilleminault C, Pelayo R. Sleep disordered breathing in children. Ann Med 1998;30:350–356

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kansanen M, Vanninen E, Tuunainen A, et al. The effect of a very low-calorie diet-induced weight loss on the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea and autonomic nervous function in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Clin Physiol 1998;18:377–385

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lojander J, Mustajoki P, Ronka S, Mecklin P, Maasilta P. A nurse managed weight reduction program for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. J Intern Med 1998;244:251–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Sampol G, Munoz X, Sagales MT, et al. Long-term efficacy of dietary weight loss in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome. Eur Respir J 1998;12:1156–1159

    Google Scholar 

  16. Stradling J, Roberts D, Wilson A, Lovelock F. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy for weight loss in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998;22:278–281

    Google Scholar 

  17. Coppola MP. Fat and prejudice. Sleep and Breathing 1999;3:35–36

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sakakibara H, Tong M, Matsushita K, et al. Cephhalometric abnormalities in non-obese and obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur Respir J 1999;13:403–410

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dostalova S, Smahel Z, Sonka K. Craniofacial abnormalities in sleep apnoea syndrome. Acta Chir Plast 1998;40:49–53

    Google Scholar 

  20. Redline S, Tishler PV, Tosteson TD, et al. The familial aggregation of obstructive sleep apnea. AM J Respir Crit Care Med 1995;151:682–687

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kushida CA, Efron B, Guilleminault C. A predictive morphometric model for the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med 1997;127:581–587

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cistulli PA. Craniofacial abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnoea: Implications for treatment. Respirology 1996;1(3):167–174

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mortimore IL, Marshall I, Wraith PK, Sellar RJ, Douglas NJ. Neck and total body fat deposition in nonobese and obese patients with sleep apnea compared with that in control subjects. AM J Respir Crit Care Med 1998;157:280–283

    Google Scholar 

  24. Redline S, Leitner J, Arnold J, Tishler PV, Altose MD. Ventilatory-control abnormalities in familial sleep apnea. AM J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;156:155–160

    Google Scholar 

  25. Soultan Z, Wadowski S, Rao M, Kravath RE. Effect of treating obstructive sleep apnea by tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy on obesity in children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1999;153:33–37

    Google Scholar 

  26. Miro Castillo N, Roca-Ribas Serda F, Perello Scherdel E. Comparative cephalometric study in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), simple snorers and controls. Acta Otorhinolaringol Esp 1998;49:111–118

    Google Scholar 

  27. Netzer N, Lormes W, Giebelhaus V, et al. Physical excercise in patients with sleep apnoea syndrome. Pneumologie 1997;51:779–782

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Insula Obesity Treatment Center, Berchtesgaden, Germany

    Wolfgang Siegfried M.D., Alena Siegfried M.D. & Maria Rabenbauer R.N.

  2. Clinical Research Group, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Germany

    Johannes Hebebrand M.D., M.P.H.

  3. Dir. Insula Adipositas Zentrum, Insulaweg, 83489, Berchtesgaden, Germany

    Wolfgang Siegfried M.D.

Authors
  1. Wolfgang Siegfried M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alena Siegfried M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maria Rabenbauer R.N.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Johannes Hebebrand M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Siegfried, W., Siegfried, A., Rabenbauer, M. et al. Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Obese Adolescents: Effect of Long-term Weight Loss-Rehabilitation. Sleep Breath 3, 83–87 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-999-0083-7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-999-0083-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation