Professor to reveal how exercising can beat winter blues

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) sufferers.

Professor Andy Lane is supporting an initiative launched by light therapy specialist Lumie to give sufferers a unique opportunity to interact via an online support network called Blue Monday.

He will be among a series of guest speakers who will answer questions and offer support and guidance.

Recognised by the World Health Organisation, SAD is a medical condition that affects people between the months of September and October through to March and April. It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain and stems from the lack of natural light available in winter.

Professor Lane, who will be online on November 30 from 7pm until 8.30pm, will be discussing how people can put exercise in their tool kit for repairing their negative moods.

He said: "People's emotion vary; sometimes we are happy and other times were are not. Evidence suggests that is a seasonal variation and that during the winter, people feel down more often than usual.

"There are a number of ways people can improve how they feel. Research shows that taking regular exercise is an effective way of enhancing how we feel."

Blue Monday will run every Monday during the winter months and into the New Year.

It is being launched on November 16 and the first guest speaker is Dr Norman Rosenthal, who first identified SAD.

Other guest speakers include representatives from the Met Office, SAD charity and scientific experts working in the field.

Jonathan Cridland, CEO of Lumie, said: "By bringing everyone together online and under one roof, Lumie hopes to offer people a positive experience that proves to be of great value over the winter."

For more information see www.lumie.com/blue-monday.

Further information

Professor Andy Lane is a renowned sports psychologist and his research includes the published paper "The effects of exercise on mood changes: The moderating effect of depressed mood."

For more information please contact Emma Kilvert in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003.