Less daytime sleepiness
- Published in
- Obes Rev 2019
- People studied
- 1,420
In a review of 35 studies with 1,420 adults with sleep apnea, lifestyle programmes eased daytime sleepiness as well as breathing pauses at night.
- Checked against
- PubMed 30609450
- Published in
- Obes Rev 2019
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
This review pooled 13 randomised trials and 22 studies without a comparison group, 1,420 adults with obstructive sleep apnea in total. In the randomised trials, programmes of diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes were compared with control groups. They reduced breathing events at night (pauses or shallow breaths) by a moderate amount, and daytime sleepiness by a small to moderate amount. Programmes built on weight loss through diet and exercise looked most effective, mainly in men with moderate to severe apnea.
At a glance
- Type of study
- pooled analysis of 13 randomised trials and 22 studies without a comparison group (meta-analysis)
- People studied
- 1,420
- Compared with
- control groups in the randomised trials
- Main result
- Less daytime sleepiness and fewer breathing events than control groups.
- Strength of evidence
- Long-term or observational studies
What this study does not show
Results are given on a statistical scale (standardised effect sizes), not as hours or numbers of events, and the studies varied a lot. Some programmes also covered sleep habits, smoking or alcohol, not only weight.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on sleep
- Milder sleep apneaLong-term or observational studies · Peppard et al., JAMA 2000
- More people free of apneaRandomised trials · Foster et al., Arch Intern Med 2009
- Fewer cases of mild apneaSmall or uncontrolled studies · Tuomilehto et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009
- Fewer breathing pauses at nightSmall or uncontrolled studies · Johansson et al., BMJ 2009
- Lasting gains for sleep apneaRandomised trials · Kuna et al., Sleep 2013
- Fewer breathing pauses with diet or exerciseRandomised trials · Edwards et al., Respirology 2019
- Less daytime sleepinessLong-term or observational studies · Carneiro-Barrera et al., Obes Rev 2019
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