The root cause of a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder called sleep apnea, could be hidden in your tongue. According to a study published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, you can overcome sleep apnea by reducing the fat in your tongue. The findings may lead to invention of new drugs against the disease.

Nearly one billion adults around the world, between the age of 30 and 69 suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The scientists, including those from University of Pennsylvania,  used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the effects of weight loss on the upper airway in obese patients.

It was concluded that reducing the fat in the tongue is the primary factor in lessening the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It means that tongue fat can be a potential therapeutic target for improving sleep apnea.