Obesity and migraine in children

Migraine and obesity are highly prevalent disorders in adults as in children, that significantly affect quality of life, health and individual well-being. In particular, migraine is one of the most common chronic conditions in the pediatric population, with an estimated prevalence of 10-28%; similarly, obesity has reached epidemic levels, and increases in obesity rate have been observed among children, and even infants. So, they are both responsible for significant high financial cost on society (Abu-Arefeh & Russell, 1994, Kim et al., 2006, Kinik 2009). Recent literature data suggest that these two conditions may be directly related trough biochemical and physiological ways, however their interaction is particularly complex and it has been the subject of multiple large and conflicting studies. Both the disease seems to be influenced by genetic factors and characterized by a local and systemic pro-inflammatory state.