Abdominal fat may increase risk of migraine in women

Overweight people who are aged 20 to 55 years may have a higher risk of experiencing migraine headaches, according to a study released that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington.

For the study, abdominal obesity was measured by waist circumference. Total body obesity was also measured, using the body mass index (BMI). Researchers looked at 22 211 people who were asked to report whether they suffered from either migraine or severe headaches.

Researchers found that age, gender, and the way that body fat is distributed affected the risk of migraine. Those who were aged 20 to 55 years and who had larger waistlines were more likely to have migraine attacks, on average, than people of the same age who had smaller waistlines. About 37% of women aged 20 to 55 years who had excess fat around the abdomen reported migraine, compared with 29% without excess abdominal fat.

In men aged 20 to 55 years, 20% of those with abdominal obesity reported migraine, compared with 16% of those without abdominal obesity. However in women aged 20 to 55 years with excess abdominal fat, the odds of migraine went up 1.3 times after adjusting for heart disease risk factors and for total body obesity.

After the age of 55, total body obesity was not associated with migraine in men or women. However, in women aged older than 55 years with large waistlines the odds of migraine actually decreased.