Bariatric surgery relieves migraine headaches

Obese people are more likely to suffer from more frequent and severe migraine headaches. The question that remained unanswered was whether losing weight helps relieve headaches. A new study just published in the leading neurology journal, Neurology suggests that this may be the case. Researchers from Brown University in Providence, RI examined 24 severely obese patients before and after bariatric (weight reduction) surgery. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 46 and their mean age was 39. A direct correlation between the amount of weight loss and the reduction in the number of headache days was observed. Weight loss was also associate with reduced disability. This study gives scientific support to the idea that weight loss may improve migraine headaches.