In such cases sleep apnea can be the cause of weight gain. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway is blocked during sleep so this excess narrowing can increase the number of times you wake up at night. Is Sleep Apnea Causing Me To Gain Weight What Causes Sleep People with sleep apnea might be more likely to have complications after major surgery because they re prone to breathing problems especially when sedated and lying on their backs. Sleep apnea and weight problems . In children sleep apnea has been linked to excess weight and obesity which can be associated with the soft tissue in the mouth and throat. Could lack of sleep be causing you to gain weight. Monday 9 february 2009. Insufficient sleep can lead to weight gain which can lead to a serious problem called sleep apnea which produces more sleep deprivation and more packing on of the pounds. In other cases the two may be unrelated or perhaps over consumption of food may be the root cause of sleep apnea. It ...