The Link Between Abdominal Obesity and Migraine

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Is it possible that obesity may increase the risk of getting migraines? A new report from Philadelphia's Drexel University College of Medicine suggests that it may, especially for women ages 20-55.

In the U.S., obesity continues to be a growing concern. A proliferation of research studies has begun linking obesity to all sorts of important health issues, including diabetes, cancer, the early onset of puberty, and others. Drexel University's new study adds migraines and severe frequent headaches to this list. 

The Drexel study is the first to examine whether abdominal obesity plays a specific role in migraine headaches. The study concludes that "the prevalence of migraine/severe headaches in those with abdominal obesity is significantly greater than those without abdominal obesity between the ages of 20-55." 

Researchers from Drexel University collected information from 22,211 participants regarding stomach circumference, body mass index, and self-reported estimates of migraine and severe headache frequencies. After analysis of the data, the researchers reported that 37 percent of women with abdominal obesity reported migraine headaches, compared to 29 percent of women without abdominal obesity. For men, the percentages were 20 percent versus 16 percent, respectively. 

The report does suggest a correlation between excess belly fat and migraines for both men and women in the 20-55 age group. However, after factoring in other contributing causes, the findings appear to be more important for women. After accounting for overall obesity, risk factors for heart disease, and demographic characteristics, women with abdominal obesity were 30 percent more likely to experience migraines than women without abdominal obesity. For men, the link was not significant. 

The increased risk for women did not come as a surprise to researchers since there is already a known sexual dimorphism in the prevalence of migraine headaches. Women are three times as likely to suffer from migraines. One of the study authors, B. Lee Peterlin, D.O., of Drexel University, hopes this study may help researchers understand the gender difference.

The research is still in the very early stages. While fellow researchers appreciate the observations of the report, they would like to see the study duplicated. Still, B. Lee Peterlin suggests "that losing weight in the stomach area may be beneficial for younger people who experience migraine and especially so for women."