According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea is a chronic disorder wherein the breathing is repeatedly interrupted for brief moments while sleeping.

People who are overweight tend to suffer from this sleep disorder more. Dr. Mitchell Roslin, chief of bariatric surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, exlplains that the soft palate in the back of the mouth falls down and blocks the airway.

Due to the irregular breathing low blood oxygen level could arise than can lead to hypertension, heart disease and mood and memory problems. The risk of automobile crashes is increased as a result.

More than 18 million adults are affected by this disorder in the U. S. Reduction in 10 percent of body weight by obese people, who suffer from sleep apnea, can lead to a much better condition.

The study's lead author, Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia found that 87 percent of obese patients who suffer from Type 2 diabetes had sleep apnea and were not even aware of it.

264 obese men and women were part of a study in which they were randomly assigned to an intensive behavioral program intended to encourage weight loss.

After one year, those who were part of the intensive program lost an average of 24 pounds and therefore saw a substantial reduction in the number of sleep apnea episodes.

Any amount of weight loss proved to be beneficial, but those who lost about 10 percent of their original body weight saw the greatest effect. "Any weight loss is good," Foster said.