If you've ever wondered about the effects of weight loss on your breathing, if it can affect your sleep apnea, or if it's even possible to make your body fat matter, consider learning how to reduce or even eliminate sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a persistent irregular airflow in the breathing passages in one or both of your legs. Sleep apnea occurs when your body does not get enough oxygenated air to breathe properly. There are many ways to cause the tissue in your airways to expand when you breathe, and over time this can cause your breathing to become very shallow, and you to lose consciousness. Sleep apnea can be caused by a combination of diseases, disorders, and injuries, including: Inadequate sleep and sleep deprivation, unhealthy diet and lifestyle, smoking anxiety, depression, poor diet, smoking, and alcohol or drug abuse.