Girls With Migraines More Likely to Gain Weight

Rift GoldMigraines and obesity have a codependent link in girls, scientists say.

Women who have migraines earlier in life are more likely to gain excess weight later on, Reuters reports. RIFT PlatinumA new study shows four out of every 10 women with childhood migraines had gained at least 22 pounds since turning 18.

The connection could be caused by the headache-related pain, scientists believe, adding that the nausea and vomiting associated with migraines may make women change their eating and exercise patterns.

The study showed headaches were also more common in obese women: rift goldone out of every four obese women reported having a migraine at some point compared to only one in six women of a healthy weight. The higher the weight, the more common the headaches occurred, researchers said.

"Relative to normal weight women, severely obese women have more than a doubling in odds of migraine," said Michelle A. Williams, RIFT Platinumof the University of Washington in Seattle, who led the research.

A 2009 study found that obese children who lost weight while being treated for migraines started having fewer migraine symptoms compared to their peers who maintained or gained weight.

"I would endorse the advice offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that promotes a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, TERA Goldregular physical activity and avoidance of adult weight gain," Williams told Reuters, adding that more research is needed