MigraineChildObesityHeadache

The Link Between Migraine and Child Obesity

Studies have found that obese adults tend to suffer from headaches and migraines more frequently and more severely. The study clarified that obesity does not cause migraines. However, obese adults have a higher propensity for experiencing more debilitating migraines.

Dr. Andrew D. Hershey. MD., PhD recently headed a study that aimed to find out if the same link between migraine and obesity also exists in children and teens. The study involved 440 children between 3 and 18 years old. The children used in the study were already migraine sufferers.

According to the findings, children whose Body Mass Index are more than 36% were found to have a higher probability of suffering from migraines compared with thinner children. The study also discovered that on average, obese children experienced 11 migraine attacks every month. Because of this, they were unable to go to school regularly and participate in leisurely activities. The thinner children, on the other hand, experienced only one to two migraine attacks per month.

So the big question is: Does obesity cause migraines? According to Dr. Hershey, the answer is still unknown. Instead, he said that this may be a "chicken and egg" situation. One supposition is that because a child often has migraine attacks, he or she does not get as much exercise as the other children.

Overweight children who suffer from migraines have many psychological issues to contend with. For one, they are subjected to migraine pains at a very young age. For another, they are also overweight. Is their obesity causing the migraines or are the migraines causing their obesity? Whichever it is, overweight children who suffer from migraines have it tough. They are "different" from the other children and they may sometimes feel left out and ridiculed.

Obese children are also more likely to suffer from stress since they tend to be singled out and picked on by the other children. One of the known migraine triggers is stress, so it really can contribute greatly to an overweight child's psychological issues. Many of these children may even pretend having headaches just to escape being made fun of at school.

The next phase in Dr. Hershey's study is determining the effects of weight loss on obese children suffering from migraines. Will their headaches improve after losing weight? Children participating in Dr. Hershey's study are going to be put on a weight loss program.

In addition to taking medications for treating migraines, Dr. Hershey encourages overweight children to get on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get adequate sleep and rest.