Young adults who are overweight are more likely to experience migraines, with waist circumference playing a more decisive role than overall body mass index (BMI). This conclusion was reached by South Korean researchers who analyzed data from more than six million people. The study was published in the journal Neurology.

Migraine is one of the most common and debilitating neurological disorders. While genetics are known to play a key role in its development, lifestyle and comorbid conditions also significantly influence disease risk. Obesity has long been considered a factor that worsens the course of migraine, but whether it can trigger migraine in previously healthy individuals has remained unclear.

To clarify this relationship, researchers used data from South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service, which covers about 99% of the country’s population. The analysis included 6.1 million people aged 20 to 39 who had no migraine diagnosis at the start of follow-up. Participants were monitored for an average of seven years, during which new cases of migraine were recorded.

The scientists assessed both BMI and waist circumference, a marker of abdominal obesity. The results showed that as body weight increased, the risk of migraine also rose; however, this association weakened after accounting for waist circumference. In contrast, a larger waist circumference remained a strong predictor of migraine even after adjustments for BMI, lifestyle factors, and metabolic indicators.

“We observed a clear relationship: the larger the waist circumference, the higher the risk of developing migraine. This suggests that abdominal obesity plays a key role,” the authors noted.

According to the researchers, visceral fat that accumulates in the abdominal area is metabolically active and produces pro-inflammatory substances. Chronic inflammation may lower the threshold for migraine attacks and contribute to disease onset.

Interestingly, the association between obesity and migraine was most pronounced in people under 30, as well as in non-smokers and those who abuse alcohol. The researchers suggest that the vasodilatory effects of alcohol may amplify the negative impact of abdominal obesity.