Seasonal eating patterns in Norway: A non-clinical population study

Seasonal deviations in normal eating habits have been associated with seaso nal affective disorder (SAD) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Two studies on seaso nal variation in eating habits are reported in this paper. In Study 1, seas onal patterns of eating disturbances were measured cross-sectionally in 631 3 participants using an eating disturbance scale (EDS-5) and a modified ver sion of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Eating distur bance scores were predicted by seasonal sensitivity scores from the SPAQ, g ender, age, and light. Study 2 used a longitudinal design in which 908 part icipants were given the EDS-5 every month from November 1993 to January 199 5. Scores on the EDS-5 fluctuated with the season of the year, with higher EDS-5 scores in winter and lower in summer. The results suggest that season al fluctuations affect only a subset of the total population.