The American Academy of Sleep Medicine fully supports the new policy adopted by the American Medical Association that recognizes obesity as a disease requiring a range of medical interventions to advance treatment and prevention. The policy was announced Tuesday, June 18, at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The AASM is working to educate the public about obesity and sleep disorders. Obesity is as a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to further complications such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The AASM’s public relations team has released a statement to the media regarding its stance on the AMA’s new policy.