Figure 5.

Mediation of percentage change in weight and apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) by percentage change in tongue fat. Results of the single mediator model of percent change in tongue fat volume mediating the relationship between percent change in weight and in AHI are shown. Unstandardized path coefficients, interpreted as the expected percentage change in outcome for a 1% change in predictor, of the relationships between percent weight change and percent change in tongue fat (path a = 1.168), between percent change in tongue fat and percent change in AHI (path b = 1.074), and the remaining direct effect between percent change in weight and percent change in AHI (path c′ = 2.337) are also shown. Significance of path coefficients is denoted as: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001.