‘I used to choke in my sleep’ – Nick Odhiambo shares turning point behind weight loss

Media personality Nick Odhiambo has opened up about a personal health struggle, revealing how a sleep condition forced him to lose weight.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, May 1, 2026, Odhiambo said he was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep, at a time when he had transitioned into a more sedentary lifestyle after years of being active.

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“I used to have what’s called sleep apnea… I used to really choke in my sleep,” he said, describing nights marked by interrupted breathing and constant discomfort.

The condition, he explained, left him feeling persistently exhausted, irritable, and mentally drained.

“You’re constantly exhausted, you’re constantly fatigued, irritable,” he added.

Odiambo explained that doctors advised lifestyle changes, including reducing weight and cutting back on alcohol. But Odhiambo said the options presented, including using a CPAP machine to aid breathing, forced him to make a clear decision.

“It’s either you use a CPAP… or you lose weight. And you look like which one was easier? Losing weight,” he said.

Lifestyle shift begins

The decision marked the beginning of a deliberate lifestyle change. Beyond health concerns, Odhiambo admitted appearance also played a role, especially given the demands of being in the public eye.

“I had to look nice also in a suit,” he noted, pointing to the pressures that come with media work and constant visibility.

However, the transformation went deeper than physical appearance.

Rediscovering self

Odhiambo said the journey improved not just his body, but also his mental clarity and emotional well-being.

“Exercise… your testosterone goes up, your feel-good hormones, your stress levels go down,” he explained.

He recalled struggling with brain fog before the change, something that gradually lifted as he became more active.

With that clarity came reflection.

“I asked myself, who is this guy in the mirror? Who was the guy before?” he said.

The radio personality states that the process pushed him to reconnect with parts of himself he had neglected over time, noting that he returned to activities he once loved, cycling, playing basketball, and drawing, describing the experience as a form of self-rediscovery.

Now approaching his mid-40s, Odhiambo said the experience reshaped how he views time and priorities.

“I won’t wake up and just have a messed-up day because of other people. Do the things that make you happy, because tomorrow is not guaranteed,” he said.