Depression-Headache Link: Study Reveals Role of Weight and Diet

A new research has revealed how body weight and diet could potentially affect the association between depression and chronic headaches. This indicates that physical and nutritional health should be addressed along with mental health. The research published in Scientific Reports aimed at finding the link between Body Mass Index (BMI), dietary iron intake, and physical activity to explain why people suffering from depression are more likely to develop chronic headaches.

Why Depression and Chronic Headaches Often Co-exist

Depression is a mental disorder that commonly and severely affects people in terms of mood, sleep, cognition, and quality of life. Besides that, it is still a leading global cause of disability, especially in regions like South Asia and the Middle East. Chronic headaches is defined as headaches having a frequency of at least 15 days a month for three consecutive months, and are among the symptoms of depression, which points to the presence of common biological and behavioural factors.

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Influence of Body Weight and Iron Intake on Headache Risk

The researchers observed that the association between depression and chronic headaches is partially mediated by higher BMI and lower iron intake through the diet. They emphasised that alterations in iron metabolism along with increased body weight have been previously associated with depression and these factors are all recognised as headache disorder risk factors.

How the Study Was Conducted

The researchers reviewed data captured by the cohort of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) in western Iran. Among the 9,918 adults between 35 and 65 years of age, the analysis comprised those who were subject to face-to-face interviews and filled in standardised online questionnaires.

Key Findings From the Mediation Analysis

The depression-prone group displayed a higher incidence of chronic headaches and showed a marked difference in their BMI, physical activity, and iron intake when compared to the other group. Depression was associated with less physical activity and on the other hand, physical activity was not considered as a separate mediator for headache risk after the other factors were controlled for.

What the Results Mean for Prevention and Care

The findings suggest that depression influences chronic headaches both directly and indirectly through body weight and dietary iron intake. Physical activity is a determinant of overall health but its effect on headache risk seems to be mainly through its influence on BMI and nutrition.

Bottomline

Study finds that tackling mental health along with weight control and iron intake may be beneficial in reducing the impact of chronic headaches.