Associations of Physical Activity and Dietary Habits with Migraine Frequency and Intensity in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and

Objectives

Migraine is a common neurological condition that can affect daily life and well-being. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, sleep, diet, and stress are often discussed in relation to migraine, but their role is not always consistent. This study aimed to examine how selected lifestyle factors are related to migraine frequency and intensity in adults, with a focus on physical activity and dietary habits. Materials and

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 adults recruited through an online migraine-focused community from 1 January to 28 February 2026. Participants completed a questionnaire addressing migraine history, frequency and duration of attacks, pain intensity, physical activity, sleep duration, perceived stress, and dietary habits. Associations were assessed using Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression analyses.

Results

Most participants were female (88%), and 48% reported physician-diagnosed migraine. Mean migraine intensity was 7.44 ± 1.72. Migraine intensity was positively correlated with migraine frequency (rs = 0.31, p < 0.001), episode duration (rs = 0.48, p < 0.001), perceived stress (rs = 0.17, p < 0.05), and sleep duration (rs = 0.16, p < 0.05). Migraine frequency was correlated with fast food consumption (rs = 0.23, p < 0.01) and BMI (rs = 0.25, p < 0.01). In regression analysis, migraine frequency (β = 0.17, p = 0.005), perceived stress (β = 0.23, p = 0.006), and aura (β = -0.19, p = 0.033) were significant predictors of migraine intensity. Physical activity was not significantly associated with migraine intensity or frequency.

Conclusions

Migraine intensity was most consistently related to perceived stress and migraine frequency, whereas migraine frequency was associated with dietary factors and BMI. Physical activity was not associated with migraine outcomes. These findings suggest that lifestyle factors are related to migraine characteristics, although the cross-sectional design does not allow conclusions about causality.