Researchers at Montreal's Concordia
University say that when women are
at their infertile part of their monthly cycle, they spend more money on food,
and crave high-calorie treats. But when women are fertile, they are more likely
to pay more attention to their appearance and shop for clothes.
The study had 59 participants who kept detailed diaries about their beauty
routine, clothing choices, calorie consumption, and purchases over a 35-day
period.
"These consumption behaviors take place without women's conscious
awareness of how hormonal fluctuations affect their choices as consumers. These
findings can help women to make choices for themselves contrary to the old
canard of biological determinism," researcher Gad Saad said in a news release
from Concordia University
in Montreal.
Well, I’m not complaining – shopping does feel good.
Do you think your cycle affects your spending habits?
The study was published recently in the Journal of Consumer Psychology.
More information
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more about the menstrual cycle
