Effect of Weight Loss on Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The Importance of Tongue Fat
I&#x27;m a dentist who regularly treats OSA with dental appliances; they work by posturing the mandible forward with a maxillary and mandibular (two-arch) device as a way to increase the cross sectional area of the posterior airway, reducing apneic events -- but it is important to know that the gold standard remains the positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.<p>I would also like to point out that I see an incredible amount of fat-shaming that is rooted in a drumbeat of research that (correctly) shows lower health risks in many areas when BMI is lowered. In reaction to that, it is important to understand that for many people weight loss is neither practical nor maintainable and for that reason it is critical that we continue to advance our treatment of things like sleep apnea.