Can't stop snoring? Your fat tongue may be to blame.

Until now, it was thought a large neck was to blame, along with being overweight.

Now, American researchers say piling on the kilos can also cause a fat tongue - which may well be the culprit.

The scientists found that obese people with obstructive sleep apnoea have a higher percentage of tongue fat - especially at the base of their tongues.

Increased tongue fat might prevent the tongue's muscles from positioning the tongue away from the airway, causing snoring because the airway becomes blocked.