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Obesity and Migraine in Childhood

  • Childhood and Adolescent Headache (S Evers, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this work was to review the current literature on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of pediatric obesity and migraine, underlying pathogenic mechanisms that may explain the association between the two disorders, and the effects of treatment.

Recent Findings

In children and adolescents, the bulk of the available data support an association between obesity and headache disorders in general, though a small number of studies contradict these findings. Relative to the adult population, however, few studies have focused specifically on migraine, and no wide-ranging meta-analyses have been conducted to date. It seems that the pathophysiology of obesity and migraine in adults holds true for the pediatric population as well. The association between obesity and migraine in the pediatric population is likely to be multifactorial and to involve both central and peripheral mechanisms. More attention is currently being addressed to the role of the hypothalamus and the bioactive neurotransmitters and neuropeptides that modulate energy homeostasis, namely serotonin, orexin, and the adiponectins, in migraine. A few innovative studies have demonstrated some benefit for migraine from weight reduction treatments such as exercise and lifestyle management.

Summary

Many open questions remain regarding the modifiable nature of the obesity–migraine relationship and its implications in clinical practice. Further studies of these issues are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Headache Clinic, Day Hospitalization Department, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, 4920235, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Tal Eidlitz Markus

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Tal Eidlitz Markus

  3. Juvenile Headache Centre, Department of Woman’s and Child’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy

    Irene Toldo

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  1. Tal Eidlitz Markus
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Correspondence to Tal Eidlitz Markus.

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Tal Eidlitz Markus and Iren Toldo declare no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the two authors of this manuscript. Dr. Tal Eidlitz Markus is quoted in reference [19] (a non-interventional retrospective study.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Childhood and Adolescent Headache

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Eidlitz Markus, T., Toldo, I. Obesity and Migraine in Childhood. Curr Pain Headache Rep 22, 42 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-018-0696-2

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