Migraine, obesity and body fat distribution - a population-based study
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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Date
2020Metadata
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Abstract
Background: Obesity has been linked to an increased prevalence of migraine, and to increased migraine attack
frequency, but several questions are left unanswered by previous studies. We examined the relationship between
obesity and headache in a large, population-based study where we could take into account body fat distribution,
migraine subtypes and tension-type headache.
Methods: The third population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3) included validated headache
questionnaires and objective anthropometric measurements. Using a cross-sectional design, our sample consisted
of 18,191 women and 14,985 men, aged 19 to 96 years. Of these 4290 (12.9%) had migraine, 4447 (13.4%) had
frequent tension-type headache (TTH), and 24,439 were headache-free controls. A total of 5049 individuals with
unclassified headache were excluded from the analyses. Using logistic regression, we modeled the association
between obesity and headache prevalence, adjusting for relevant confounders.
Results: Both total body obesity (TBO) and abdominal obesity (AO) were associated with a higher prevalence of
migraine when compared to headache-free controls (OR 1.45 95% CI 1.32–1.59 and OR 1.29 95% CI 1.18–1.41,
respectively), in particular for individuals < 50 years of age (OR 1.74 95% CI 1.54–1.98 and OR 1.89 95% CI 1.69–2.11).
Similar results were seen for migraine with and without aura. Similar Overall, a weaker associations were as
observed between obesity and TTH. There was a dose-response relationship between obesity categories and
increased headache frequency in subjects with migraine. TBO was associated with migraine prevalence and attack
frequency independent of AO.
Conclusion: Both TBO and AO were associated with migraine prevalence and attack frequency. This association
was largely limited to individuals < 50 years of age. TBO, rather than AO, may be a better measure of obesity in
relation to migraine