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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Obes Rev. 2011 May;12(501):e362–e371. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00791.x

Table 1.

Migraine and Obesity: Findings from Population-Based Studies

Ref Sample Characteristics Migraine Prevalence by Weight (BMI) Category Migraine and Obesity Findings
N Age M and/or range Female (%) Category (%) Prevalence Frequency and Severity
Bigal et al.15 30,215 38.7 (18–89) 65 Underweight (<18.5)
Normal weight (18.5–24.9)
Overweight (25.0–25.9)
Obese (30.0–34.9)
Morbidly obese (≥ 35.0)		 15.8
13.2
11.2
11.8
14.0

  • Migraine prevalence was not related to obesity

  • Migraineurs who were overweight(OR = 1.3), obese (OR = 2.9) and morbidly obese (OR = 5.7) were at increased risk for having high headache frequency (10–15 headache d/mos.) compared to those who were normal-weight.

  • Migraineurs who were overweight (1.25), obese (1.31), and morbidly obese (1.9) were at increased risk for having severe headaches compared to those who were normal-weight.
Bigal et al.16 162,576 ≥ 12 NA NA NA NA

  • Migraineurs who were obese (1.3) and morbidly obese (1.7) were at increased risk for experiencing frequent migraine headaches (10–15 headache d/mos.) compared to those who were normal weight.
Ford et al.17 7,601 ≥ 20 48 Underweight (<18.)
Normal weight (18.5–24.9)
Overweight (25.0–25.9)
Obese (30.0–34.9)		 34.0
18.9
20.7
25.9

  • Participants who were underweight (OR = 2.1) and obese (OR = 1.4) were at increased risk for having severe headaches or migraine compared with normal-weight participants.

 NA
Keith et al.31 220,370 16–94 100 NA NA

  • Migraine prevalence was not related to obesity.

 NA
Mattson et al.32 684 54 (40–74) 100 Non-obese (< 30)
Obese (≥ 30)		 19.9
16.9

  • Migraine prevalence was not related to obesity.

  • Migraine frequency and severity was not related to obesity.
Peterlin et al.18 21,783 ≥ 20 51 ≤ 55 years old
 Non-obese (< 30)
 Obese (≥ 30)
> 55 years old
 Non-obese (< 30)
 Obese (≥ 30)		 22.9
28.4
NA
NA

  • In men and women 55 years of age, total obesity (based on BMI) and abdominal obesity (based on waist circumference) were associated with higher migraine prevalence.

    In women > 55 years of age, abdominal obesity was associated with lower prevalence of migraine.

 NA
Winter et al.33 63,467 54 (≥ 45) 100 Under/normal-weight (<23.0)
Normal weight (23.0–24.9)
Overweight I (25.0–26.9)
Overweight II (27.0–29.9)
Obese (30.0–34.9)
Severely obese (≥ 35.0)		 13.8
14.4
15.2
14.3
14.5
16.4

  • Obesity was not associated with active migraine or prior history of migraine.

  • Migraineurs who were under/normal-weight (2.1) and severely obese (3.1) were at increased risk for having daily migraine compared to those with the lowest associated risk (overweight II, migraine frequency < 6/yr)