A Brief Lifestyle Modification Programme in Overweight Subjects With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea - Needs Assessment

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic disease and associated with cardiovascular and neurocognitive sequelae. Overweight is a common, reversible risk factor of OSA, and the rapid rise in obesity worldwide may lead to increases in OSA and related adverse health outcomes. Weight-loss interventions, especially comprehensive lifestyle interventions, are associated with improvements in OSA severity, cardiometabolic comorbidities, and quality of life. However, the intensive nature of these programmes often pose a barrier to adherence. Furthermore, although there is strong evidence to support the value of mobile text messaging to promote physical activity and healthy eating in clinical and community settings, messaging has rarely been applied in interventions for overweight OSA subjects. The proposed study aims to examine the feasibility of a brief lifestyle modification programme that makes use of smartphone technology (WhatsApp or WeChat) to empower subjects to start doing simple and easy-to-do exercises that can be easily integrated into daily life for gradual lifestyle change.