Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1468-2982/asset/olbannercenter.gif?v=1&s=20a7a9478adbfd60cd3e454e0116e3cff73e5018)
1468-2982/asset/olbannerright.gif?v=1&s=51e39df9bb1801c829e25bd4aeac8d8bda5a9fb9)
Body mass index and headaches: findings from a national sample of US adults
Article first published online: 22 AUG 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01671.x
© Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
Ford, E., Li, C., Pearson, W., Zhao, G., Strine, T. and Mokdad, A. (2008), Body mass index and headaches: findings from a national sample of US adults. Cephalalgia, 28: 1270–1276. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01671.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 19 NOV 2008
- Article first published online: 22 AUG 2008
- Received 20 March 2007, accepted 15 April 2008
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Body mass index;
- C-reactive protein;
- epidemiology;
- headache;
- migraine
The objective was to study the cross-sectional association between body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of severe headaches or migraines in a national sample of US adults. We used data from 7601 men and women aged ≥ 20 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. The age-adjusted prevalence of severe headaches or migraines during the previous 3 months was 34.0, 18.9, 20.7 and 25.9% among participants with a BMI < 18.5, 18.5 to < 25, 25 to < 30 and ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively. After adjusting for a variety of covariates in a logistic regression model, those with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2[odds ratio (OR) 2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34, 3.02] or ≥ 30 kg/m2 (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.09, 1.72) had a significantly elevated OR for having a headache compared with participants with a BMI of 18.5–< 25 kg/m2. BMI is associated with the prevalence of severe headaches or migraines in a non-linear manner.