Harmful effects
Dr. Divya Gopal - consultant internal medicine at Sir HN Reliance Hospital, Mumbai (India) - said that too much excess fat in the neck can cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
This is a condition that can obstruct the airway by narrowing the airway during sleep, leading to intermittent pauses in breathing. In some cases, excess neck fat can also contribute to mechanically limiting lung expansion, although this condition is less common than OSA.
Dr. Divya Gopal shares some conditions that people with excess neck fat may experience, including:
Airway compression: Fat deposits in the neck can compress the airway, making it difficult to breathe, especially when lying down. This can restrict air flow to the lungs, causing shortness of breath or wheezing.
Sleep Apnea: Neck fat can contribute to sleep apnea, a condition in which the airway becomes blocked during sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious problem that can lead to a lack of oxygen in the body, reducing the quality of sleep and affecting long-term health.
Fatigue and shortness of breath during exercise: Excess fat in the neck area can also put extra strain on the respiratory system, making you feel tired and short of breath during physical activities or even in everyday situations.
Respiratory disorders: Having too much fat in the neck can increase the risk of respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma, or other lung-related problems.
Complications
Airway obstruction due to neck fat can lead to:
Cardiovascular complications: OSA and other sleep-disordered breathing conditions are associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Cognitive impairment: Sleep deprivation due to OSA can lead to daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood disturbances.
Metabolic disorders: Obesity, often associated with neck fat, is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
How to control neck fat?
Dr. Gopal suggests the following techniques to control neck fat:
Weight management: Comprehensive weight loss through a combination of diet and exercise is often effective in reducing neck fat.
Targeted Exercises: Specific exercises that target the neck muscles may have limited impact on fat loss but can improve neck strength and posture.
Lifestyle changes: Reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and avoiding sedatives can help control sleep-related breathing problems.
Medical intervention: In severe cases, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or surgery may be considered to treat OSA.
