Androgens, obesity, and sleep-disordered breathing in men.

Impaired gonadal function, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea commonly occur together in men. We propose that this arises due to two interlinked cycles. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which these relationships occur may lead to novel therapeutic strategies. Although obesity is not gender specific and the effectiveness of current antiobesity interventions have predominantly been verified in women, promoting weight loss in men is an urgent concern because men are have proportionally worse health consequences. In addition, avoiding excessive weight may maintain optimal male reproductive health.