Lack of sleep prompts dad into weight-loss regime
20/07/2010
A father of five took drastic action when the effect of his weight on his sleep became too much.
Seamus Saunders suffered from severe obstructive sleep apnea, because the rolls of fat on his neck closed off his airways, preventing him from getting more than 45 minutes of sleep each night.
Following the advice of sleep specialists, the 47-year-old Scotsman shed around 13st, taking his bodyweight down to 11st 10lb.
Mr Saunders admits that the change has had a significant effect on his life.
He said: "I didn''t sleep for six years. It wrecked my life.
"I was walking round like a zombie unable to think. Now I go to bed and get a whole night of sleep."
A study published in December 2009 by researchers at the Swedish Karolinska Institutet indicated that dramatic weight loss can be an effective way to improve moderate and severe sleep apnea.
Posted by Michael Ewing
