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SLEEP 2026 | Obesity and sleep disorders: the Obesity Medicine Algorithm
Allan Damian, MD, Skagit Regional Health, Mount Vernon, WA, discusses the close relationship between obesity and sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. He also provides an overview of the Obesity Medicine Association’s Obesity Algorithm, explaining how it serves as a practical, annually updated resource to support evidence-based obesity management, including guidance on sleep health. This interview took place at the 40th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) in Baltimore, MD.
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Transcript
So, obesity disorders and sleep disorders are very closely intertwined, interlinked. And so there are four categories of sleep disorders, and obesity disorders, or obesity in general, overlap with all of these categories. So, for example, excess weight can lead to sleep apnea, and sleep apnea can also drive worsening weight. Then, of course, circadian rhythms can lead to obesity, and obesity can also have an impact on circadian rhythms...
So, obesity disorders and sleep disorders are very closely intertwined, interlinked. And so there are four categories of sleep disorders, and obesity disorders, or obesity in general, overlap with all of these categories. So, for example, excess weight can lead to sleep apnea, and sleep apnea can also drive worsening weight. Then, of course, circadian rhythms can lead to obesity, and obesity can also have an impact on circadian rhythms. And then certain aspects of obesity can give enough stress so that it can lead to insomnia. And, of course as far as movement disorders are concerned, we know that in obesity disorders there may be lower iron than usual, and some of the movement disorders could be linked to low ferritin levels.
I was originally a pediatrician, and I’m boarded in pediatrics, in obesity medicine, and in sleep medicine. So I practice mainly adult and pediatric sleep medicine. And to kind of use my expertise in obesity, I got heavily involved with the Obesity Medicine Association. I’m part of the algorithm work group for the adults and the kids. So the Obesity Medicine Algorithm is kind of like a reference guide for obesity practitioners. It summarizes the basic concepts important in obesity care. There is some clinical guidance in there. It is something that we update every year and we publish every year. And as I’ve mentioned, it is a reference guide for all obesity practitioners. So I’m very proud to have written several chapters there, especially the chapters on sleep.
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