Table 1 Weight loss treatments and effects on headache in migraine and IIH. Data presented depicts means before and after intervention. BMI = Body mass index, VAS = Visual analogue scale, VRS = Verbal rating scale, MIDAS = Migraine disability assessment

Migraine phenotype

Treatment

Weight change (BMI)

Headache frequency

Headache severity/ medication intake

Ref

Episodic migraine

w/out aura

Ketogenic diet 3 months on diet

27.5 to 23.2

(n/month):5.1 to 3.2 (P < 0.05)

Tablet intake (n/month): 4.9 to 2.8 (P < 0.05)

[52]

Episodic migraine

w/out aura

Nutritionist assisted diet, 3 months

27.8 to 24.6

(n/month): 6.3 to 4.2 (P < 0.05)

Tablet intake (n/month): 5.9 to 3.8 (P < 0.05)

Migraine ICHD2

Vegan diet 16 weeks

26.9 to 25.5

(n/week):2.1 to 1.7

VAS: 6.0 to 3.6 (P < 0.0001)

[53]

Migraine ICHD2

Placebo dietary supplements 16 week

26.2 to 26.2

(n/week):2.1 to 1.8

VAS: 4.7 to 4.1

Migraine w/out aura ICHD2

Gastric banding, 6 month follow-up

42.4 to 34.6

(n/month): 6.0 to 1.0 (P < 0.001)

MIDAS: 21 to 4 (P < 0.001)

[54]

IIH

Phase of disease at study entry

Treatment

Weight change (BMI)

Headache frequency

Headache severity

Ref

> 3 months after diagnosis

Low calorie diet trial

3 months

38.6 to 32.6

(Days/week): 4.4 to 2.1 (P = 0.011)

VAS: 4.2 to 1.9 (P = 0.015)

[55]

Mean 1 year after diagnosis at baseline

Bariatric surgery

1 year after randomisation

44.2 to 35.1

(Days/week): 5.5 to 1.8 (P < 0.001)

VRS: 5.0 to 3.2 (P = 0.002)

[40]

Mean 1 year after diagnosis at baseline

Community weight management

1 year after randomisation

43.7 to 43.1

(Days/week): 5.6 to 4.1 (P = 0.007)

VRS: 5.0 to 4.0 (P = 0.1)

Newly diagnosed

Routine clinical care 1Y follow-up study

35.5 to 31.8

Daily 86–43 %

VAS: 7.5 to 4.5

[41]