I hear from a lot of obese patients who have trouble with their sleep and for many, this has become so serious that they have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. This diagnosis is associated with obesity as the weight around the neck can make breathing difficult with the consequence that many people are issued with CPAP machines they must use at night to ensure they breathe. The CPAP machine involves the patient wearing a mask that looks like an old fighter pilots mask and ‘blows’ air into the lungs at a regular frequency.

Anyone using one will know that it’s a major inconvenience.

The good news is that weight loss surgery is very effective in the treatment of sleep apnoea. The gastric bypass is the best option closely followed by the sleeve. With the gastric bypass (Roux-en-y and mini bypass deliver similar results) over 95% of sleep apnoea patients see an improvement or total resolution of their symptoms. That figure drops a little but is still over 80% with the gastric sleeve.

This is a great example of weight loss surgery being truly life-enhancing.If you are experiencing problems with your sleep patterns and you are obese (BMI over 30), then weight loss surgery is worth considering as a possible solution for your weight and sleep.