Link Between Childhood Migraines and Obesity

Thursday, 11 August 2011 10:58

Girls who suffer from migraines as children are more likely to become obese as adults, according to a new study published in the journal Headache.

An association between migraines and obesity isn't new, but this is the first study to link childhood headaches to adult weight gain, say researchers.

Though the study didn't delve into why the association exists, researchers speculate that migraines may affect women's eating habits or lead them to become more sedentary.

Migraines are defined as severe recurring headaches that are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and smell. They are more common in women than in men and cost the U.S an estimated $20 billion annually in medical care and lost productivity.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 3,700 women, collecting information on the women's weight and history of migraines. Among normal-weight women, about one in six had been diagnosed with migraine as a child. The frequency among obese women was higher, even after ruling out other factors, such as high blood pressure and smoking. Four out of ten women who suffered from childhood migraines had gained at least 22 pounds since the age of 18.

Research also showed that as weight increased, so did the frequency of migraines.

"Relative to normal weight women, severely obese women have more than a doubling in odds of migraine," said lead author Michelle A. Williams, of the University of Washington in Seattle.

Though more research is needed, results are consistent with earlier studies that showed a link between weight and headaches in children. A 2009 study found that children who suffered from headaches experienced them less frequently as they lost weight.