There are numerous physical characteristics which can increase the risk of sleep apnea, including a small airway or a large neck circumference. Most notably, your BMI is the one which can increase the odds for sleep apnea.

BMI, or body mass index, is a number which is based on your height and weight. Your BMI determines whether you have a healthy weight or are obese or overweight. Hence, the higher your body mass index is, the higher are the chances for developing sleep apnea. However, if you don’t know how to calculate your BMI, keep reading.

Here’s everything you need to know about body mass index and sleep apnea.

What Exactly Does BMI Measure and Why is it Used?

The body mass index determines your measure of body fat based on your weight and height. The body mass index will show you whether you are at a healthy weight or overweight. What’s best about it is that you can do it in the comfort of your own home. The BMI was introduced by a Belgian mathematician, Adolphe Quetelet in th 1830s.

How Do You Calculate Your BMI?

There is a formula you can follow to calculate your BMI. The formula is as follows:

Your BMI – weight (lb.) ÷ height2 (in2) × 703

Here’s how the formula works:

• Multiply your height in inches by itself;
• Divide your weight in pounds by the results of step 1;
• Multiply the result of step 2 by 703;

For instance, if you were 5’11” (or a total of 71 inches), and you weighed 155 pounds, your calculation would look like this:

BMI = (155 ÷ (71 × 71)) × 703

BMI = (155 ÷ 5041) × 703

BMI = 0.030747867 × 703

BMI = 21.62

Fortunately, this formula isn’t the only way to calculate your body mass index. Instead, there is a wide range of online calculators you can use.

The number you will get from the calculators or the formula will show you in which category you belong. So, if your BMI that is less than 18.5, you’re underweight. You're at a healthy weight if your body mass index is 18.5 to 24.9. But your overweight with a BMI that is 25 to 29.9 and obese if the number is 30 or higher.

Body Mass Index and Sleep Apnea

The risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea is higher if you belong in the overweight or obese category. That is, if your BMI is 25 or higher.

The main reason behind the close link between obstructive sleep apnea and BMI is the pressure on your airways. So, if your body mass index is higher and you have extra weight on your neck, the more pressure there is on your respiratory system. Thus, it’s harder for you to breathe at night which leads to pauses in breathing and gasping. And we already know that those two are integral parts of obstructive sleep apnea.

However, it’s important to mention that not everyone with high BMI has sleep apnea. In fact, the best way to reduce the risk of developing sleep apnea is by lowering your body mass index. Hence, if you have a high BMI and you are often sleepy and irritable during the day, it’s best to get tested for sleep apnea. So, these two conditions might be linked, but also treating one condition can improve the other one.

For instance, if you want to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s crucial to manage your weight and maybe shed some extra pounds. Moreover, patients with obstructive sleep apnea and a BMI greater than 25 are suggested to consume a reduced-calorie diet and incorporate physical exercise into their everyday routine.