It all starts with disturbed sleep. This leads to depression and anger (they feel that cannot control their lives).
The depression leads to a poor diet, poor health, susceptibility to infections and malnutrition.
The poor diet is usually high in carbs, low in nutrition and high in calories.
The poor diet often leads to weight gain.
The weight gain results in more depression.
The increase in depression can progress into serious psychological problems in some.
Add peer pressure to the mix and you have an increase in all of the above.
The increased weight increases the risk of OSA progressing into more severe stages.
As can be seen in these slides, sleep apnea in teens or pre-teens can be devastating to the child. Add poor school performance and pressure from peers, teachers and parents and the child can feel they are a failure and hopeless. Hormones do not help either. Often, with proper treatment of OSA, the child break free of this vicious circle.