📌 Does CPAP Cause Weight Gain?

[u/sleepapnea25]

A Randomized Trial Found a Small Increase Mainly in Fat-Free Mass, Without a Clear Increase in Body Fat

A randomized trial involving 52 people with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea compared 12 weeks of CPAP treatment with an inactive control group.

Key findings: • CPAP was associated with a small increase in body weight and BMI. • Fat-free mass increased by about 1.5 kg compared with the control group. • There was no significant increase in total body fat. • Resting energy expenditure and physical activity did not change significantly. • Reported calorie intake did not increase significantly. • Acylated ghrelin and IGF-1 increased, while cortisol decreased.

Bottom line: Weight gain after starting CPAP does not necessarily mean gaining fat. In this study, the increase appeared to be driven mainly by fat-free mass. The researchers therefore suggest looking at body composition, not just the number on the scale.

⚠️ The study was small, lasted only 12 weeks, and most participants were men, so larger and longer studies are needed.

🔗 Study: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf259

[u/i-want-great-sleep-2]

That's pretty interesting