The sleep apnoea will go away if there is significant weight loss. This often needs to be at least 7 kg. If you subsequently gain weight, the problem will come back. Often you will need to avoid sleeping on your back, to get a reasonable result when slimmer. A mandibular advancement splint may work quite well for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea. Often people who lose weight would need both the splint and to keep off their back at night.

If weight loss is not practical, then surgery may help. The common surgery for snoring: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is of little practical use with major apnea. Two thirds are unchanged, one in six worse and one in six being helped somewhat.