SAD

It is January here in Chicago. The holidays are past and we seem to be perpetually buried in snow this year. Although I have many items on my agenda I just don’t seem to be able to muster any enthusiasm for doing any of them.

I’m beginning to wonder if I don’t have a small case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a Psychiatric condition where the affected person becomes sad and lethargic in the winter months. It is thought that the lack of sunlight during the short winter days causes a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that the condition resolves as the days grow longer.

Looking back at my life, it does seem that when I have accomplished major goals--including dieting--, it is more likely to have occurred in the warmer months. I do seem to have more energy and need less sleep then. A few of my kids have also noticed that the cold Midwestern winters seem to affect them emotionally, although they aren’t necessarily averse to doing cold weather events such as skiing.

Many people have this issue. Many try to overcome some of the blahs with food.
Over the years I’ve noticed that most patients in my internal practice will put on several pounds in the winter months and lose it in the summer. They blame it on the lack of activity during the winter. I’m sure that is a part of the story, but I think the more likely explanation is that we tend to eat a lot of comfort food during the dreary winters.

I’ve been musing about this because there is also the well known phenomenon of people wanting to start diets after the holidays, the “New Years Resolution” phenomenon. It seems like the worst time to attempt such a feat, but perhaps it makes sense, since the willpower is being ratcheted up during a time when one is otherwise most likely to gain weight. If we succeed in the winter, hopefully in the summer we won’t need so much will power because our natural tendency is to eat less anyway.

Anyway, I guess that I should say this is a good time to come to our office for a free consultation. We have all kinds of weight loss plans and I know that we can help you. If nothing else it will get you out of the house.