Breathing problems in obese children

Obesity is associated with numerous ills, even in children, and it has now been found that excess weight can also prevent children from getting a good night's sleep. According to researchers at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, up to one third of obese children appear to have trouble breathing at some point during sleep, compared with only 5 percent of normal weight children. Having enlarged tonsils also puts children at risk of breathing problems while sleeping. The excess weight may lead to breathing problems by causing the airways to narrow or become congested during sleep. The treatments for sleep-related breathing problems, also known as sleep apnoea, include surgery to remove enlarged tissues at the back of the throat, weight loss if a child is obese, or the use of a specialised machine that keeps children breathing normally while asleep. Sleep apnoea describes a condition in which sleepers experience a temporary collapse of their upper airway. In addition to snoring, other symptoms of sleep apnoea include snorts or gasps as breathing temporarily stops and restarts. The condition has been linked to poor concentration and attention problems. Although obesity is a common feature in adults with sleep apnoea, previous research into the role of obesity in children with sleep apnoea has shown mixed results, with some studies suggesting obese kids breathe just as easily during sleep as normal weight children. In the current study, the researchers observed 90 children during sleep, noting their weight and who among them experienced breathing problems. Around half the children were obese. It was found that obese children appeared to be 20 percent more likely to show signs of sleep apnoea than normal weight kids. Children with abnormally large tonsils appeared to increase the risk of sleep-related breathing troubles almost 13-fold. Hence, it can be concluded that obese children with enlarged tissues at the back of the throat have a high risk of sleep-related breathing problems. These findings suggest that obese children with enlarged tonsils should be managed appropriately.