Women '50 per cent more likely to suffer from SAD'
Winter may not be many people's favourite time of year, but for some Brits, the cold months spell trouble in the form of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). And new research has revealed that women are more likely to suffer from the winter blues than their male counterparts.
According to a survey of more than 2,000 people, by Anglian Home Improvements, 66 per cent of Britons struggle to stay motivated during winter, and more than six out of ten claim it impacts their general sense of wellbeing.
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But it is the fairer sex that suffers the most, with women almost 50 per cent more likely to feel the blues than men. Some 44 per cent of the women polled said they struggled to get out of bed in the winter, compared to only 30 per cent of men. 37 per cent of women said they found it harder to get motivated throughout the short daylight hours and long, dark nights, compared to only 28 per cent of men.
And there was more bad news for the ladies... or at least their waistlines. Some 33 per cent confessed that they turned to comfort eating to combat feeling low, craving carb-heavy snacks and sweet treats to boost their mood.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings said it was "no surprise" that so many Brits suffer with SAD.
She explained: "The lack of natural daylight and the passing of the summer months affect us both psychologically and physiologically during the winter.
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"The research shows that women are 50 per cent more likely to suffer from the winter blues than men, which is backed up by scientific evidence and is highly likely to be related to women's increased sensitivity to cyclical changes - hormonal, biological or seasonal."
Ms Hemmings added: "Additionally, the winter blues can make us crave sugary foods and carbohydrates, so again it's no surprise that more of us comfort eat during the winter months, and we often feel even more fed up when we gain weight as a result."
Do you suffer with SAD? What have you found that helps ease the symptoms? Leave your comments below...
