What is the Relationship between Chiari I Malformation and Obesity?

The purpose of this review is to assess what is known about the importance of body weight as it relates to the diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of symptomatic patients with Chiari I malformation. It will attempt to answer several important questions.

a. Does obesity cause Chiari I malformation?

b. Does obesity cause syringomyelia in patients who have tonsillar ectopia and who are obese?

c. What is the effect of weight loss or gain occurring in the signs and symptoms associated with this condition?

d. Are obese patients at greater risk of failed surgery or complications of surgery for CM1 than are the non-obese.

e. What is the relationship between CM1 and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) that was previously called pseudotumor cerebri?

f. What is the proper assessment of CM1 patients who are obese?

g. What should be the physician’s approach to these patients be?