Successful sleep apnea treatment may lead to unexpected weight gain

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A study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center suggests that appetite may remain elevated after successful treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Research in mice points to a lasting metabolic effect that could help explain weight gain after breathing normalizes.

A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center may have uncovered a biological mechanism behind why many adults and children gain weight following successful treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The research, conducted on mice and published in Scientific Reports, suggests that the body retains a persistent "metabolic memory" that continues to drive increased appetite even after normal breathing is restored.