Study: Weight-loss drugs may help improve sleep - Sarmad

A recent American study has shown that certain medications used to treat obesity and diabetes may help individuals with obstructive sleep apnea improve their sleep by reducing the number of breathing pauses during the night.

The American science website “No Ridge,” citing a research review led by Dr. Atul Malhotra of the University of California, San Diego, and involving researchers from Macquarie University in Australia and Harvard University, stated that obesity and diabetes medications contributed to a reduction in the frequency of breathing interruptions during sleep. The drug “tirzepatide” proved to be the most effective, with approximately half of the participants who took it reaching a stage of disease remission, compared to a much lower rate among those who received a placebo.

Researchers attributed these results primarily to weight loss, noting that a reduction in fat accumulated around the neck, tongue, and throat can alleviate pressure on the airway, helping to keep it open during sleep.

In December 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of tirzepatide for treating obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

Obesity is one of the most prominent modifiable risk factors for developing obstructive sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices remain a primary treatment for the condition, despite the difficulty some patients face in using them on a daily basis.