NHLBI IN THE PRESS

Study: Losing tongue fat might help reduce severity of sleep apnea

Researchers have long known that losing weight is an effective treatment for sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Now, a new study suggests that losing fat in the tongue might help improve this condition as well.

The study included 67 participants with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea who were obese. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the effect of weight loss on the upper airway in these obese patients, researchers found that reducing tongue fat is a primary factor in lessening the severity of sleep apnea. The findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The study was funded by the NHLBI.

Media Coverage

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CNN
  • Lose fat in your tongue to improve sleep apnea, study says
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    ABC News
  • Sleep apnea may be tied to tongue fat, study finds
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    Newsweek
  • Losing tongue fat could help with common sleep problem
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    Discover Magazine
  • Excess Tongue Fat Could Be Leading to Sleep Apnea, Scientists Find
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    The Atlanta Journal Constitution
  • Tongue weight loss? It could be the key to improving sleep apnea, study says
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    Medical Xpress
  • Losing tongue fat improves sleep apnea
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    Men's Health
  • Tongue Fat Could Be Causing Sleep Apnea
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    Inside Science
  • Got Sleep Apnea? Tongue Fat May Be to Blame
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    Penn Medicine News
  • Losing Tongue Fat Improves Sleep Apnea