It is easy to recognize that being overweight or obese can have negative health consequences but how does being overweight affect your sleep and the risk of sleep problems. Still others may have health concerns that lead to central sleep apnea a sleep breathing disorder caused by a miscommunication between the brain and the respiratory system. Sleep Apnea Can Affect Anyone At Any Age Even Children Risk Obesity is the most important risk factor for sleep apnea. Can you have sleep apnea without being overweight . How is sleep apnea linked to overweight. Now that we ve established that individuals with thin body types can still suffer from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders let s consider some of the other symptoms that could be a sign that you need a sleep study. What other signs of sleep apnea should i look for. If you re overweight and have sleep apnea it s important to approach the two issues together. You may be surprised to learn the unexpected ways from snoring and s