Obesity

Obesity and Headache

Two large studies initially showed a correlation between obesity and chronic daily headache, but not migraine. That means that the more weight you are carrying, the more likely you are to have chronic daily headache. More recent studies, however, do suggest that there may a correlation between migraine and both total body obesity and abdominal obesity.

A BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more places an individual at risk for new onset of chronic daily headaches, which is a condition called New Daily Persistent Headache. A BMI of 25 to 30 is considered “overweight.” A BMI of 30 to 35 is called class I obesity, 35-40 is class II obesity, and BMI over 40 is class III obesity. Most of the studies that determined a correlation between obesity and migraine also did so at a BMI of 30 or greater, although the most risk was seen for class II obese women of reproductive age. Neither the prevalence of migraine nor the risk of severe headache were increased in older women or men with total obesity or abdominal obesity.

There is emerging evidence to suggest that there may be a correlation between metabolic syndrome and migraine as well. An increased waist-to-hip ratio is one of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Interestingly, there was also an increased rate of headache in the underweight. The best BMI in order to avoid headache is 20. What has not yet been determined is whether there are shared genetic factors that place a given individual at risk for both migraine and obesity, or whether something about migraine and the neurochemical changes that go on in the brain predispose toward obesity.

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