Weight loss could ease headaches

Ruth Callaghan, The West Australian
Updated November 25, 2011

The pain might be between your ears but what is below your ribs might play a role in fighting off headaches.

A growing number of researchers have found links between obesity and chronic migraine, with some studies suggesting that weight gain may be associated with the progression of occasional migraines into a chronic problem.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/health/12021946/weight-loss-could-ease-headaches/

By Bari Nan Cohen & Prevention Magazine
Published November 25, 2011

The frustration of seeing extra pounds on the scale—or of a too-tight waistband that you know used to fit—is understandable. But did you know that anything from a hormonal imbalance to vitamin deficiencies to the prescription meds you take can hold clues to what’s making you fat?

“A lot of people make what we think are lifestyle choices but are actually our bodies reacting to factors we can’t control,” says Dr. Robert J. Hedaya, clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center. “Whether it’s hormonal, a medication side effect, or something else, too often we put the onus on the individual, and there are factors that sometimes justify a doctor’s help.”

Here, seven health issues that could be standing between you and your ideal weight—and how to fix them.

1. You’re Depressed

Many anti-depressant medications cause weight gain—so if you’re depressed and taking pills for it, expect to see a bump in weight between five and 15 pounds, with continued gradual accumulation over the years, says Hedaya, who is also the founder of the National Center for Whole Psychiatry in Chevy Chase, Md.

If you’re not taking pills, there’s evidence that feelings of depression can correlate to weight gain. One 2010 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that people who feel sad and lonely gain weight more quickly than those who report fewer depression-related symptoms.

“They may be eating more high-fat, high-calorie comfort foods,” says Belinda Needham, assistant professor in the department of sociology at UAB and the lead author of the study. “Or they may have [cut back their] physical activity.”

Fix It: “If I see patients who are taking anti-depressants and that could be the culprit of their weight gain, I may wean them slowly off of the drug,” says Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read, assistant clinical professor at the Loma Linda School of Medicine in California. “I may then put them on Wellbutrin instead, which actually helps with weight loss.”

If your meds are not to blame, seek out some workout buddies or a support group.

“Attending meetings, like Weight Watchers, or working out with a group of friends is a great way to increase social support,” Needham says, “which can help depression.”

2. You’re Taking The Wrong Rx
There’s a long list of medications that can cause weight gain: If you’re taking birth control pills, excess hormones for hormone therapy, steroids, beta-blockers for heart disease and blood pressure, anti-seizure meds, breast cancer medications like Tamoxifen, some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, and even some migraine and heartburn medications, you may notice pounds creeping on.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/25/7-surprise-reasons-for-weight-gain/#ixzz1ekZMHEsp

I'm starting to feel a bit like obesity is being blamed for everything... I'm a bit of a skinny Minnie these days, so definitely can't blame the scales for my migraines!