Stress/Sleep: the prerequisite With cumulative sales of almost €268 million, food supplements designed to fight against stress and help with sleeping are in first place on the podium of the best-selling supplements in France, ahead of digestion/transit (2nd place) and vitality (3 place). A position acquired following the rush of consumersrd towards these non-medicated solutions designed to relieve stress and help them improve their sleep. ecause in 2020, the French (and than women, the prevalence of depression not only them) were particularly (29%) quadrupled among young men aged stressed. A study carried out in 16-24 - among young women of the same Italy during the first containment among age group, this prevalence only tripled 18 147 people (80% women) in the form of (30%). questionnaires quantified the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, insomnia and even SEARCH FOR NATURAL SOLUTIONS depression. The results were unequivocal: a 7% increase in insomnia, a 17% increase As a result of this dramatic and unprece- in depressive symptoms, a 20% increase dented situation, prescriptions for drug solu- in severe anxiety, a 21% increase in stress tions have exploded. According to an ANSM- and a 37% increase in post-traumatic CNAM EPI-PHARE report of October 2020, stress symptoms (R. Rossi et al, Frontiers in after the first containment, sales of hypnot- Psychiatry, 2020). In the US, in the first 58 ics increased by 12% and those of anxiolytics days of the pandemic, 3.4 mil lion searches by 19%. But beyond this consumption of me- related to acute anxiety (Google Trends) dicinal solutions, Covid-19 has intensified the were recorded. According to Dr Benjamin Althouse of the Institute for Disease Modeling, “searches for anxiety and panic attacks were the highest ever recorded in 1653% of French people say that the health years of historical data”. context has increased their stress level WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (source: Harris Interactive survey) AMONG THE MOST AFFECTED Two categories of population pay a “heavy” price for stress and anxiety: women and quest by consumers for wellness solutions. Mil lenials. In addition to the (very) high proportion of Women: 30% of those aged 16 to 44 consumers (2/3) who want preventive health declared themselves to be stressed (in 2018, benefits from food and drink products only 18% did so); 76% slept badly... according (FMCV Guru - Covid-19 survey in 19 countries to a study of 40,000 people in Belgium (The - July 2020), 55% of consumers want to im- Belgian public health Institute, Sciensano, prove their mental well-being. As an imme- 2020). diate consequence, according to an Opinion By age group, young people (Generation Z Way survey (June 2020), 21% of French con- and Mil lenials) were the most affected. The sumers use food supplements to improve frequency of anxiety-related disorders has their sleep; 18% to relieve stress. Such an un- doubled in the 24-35 age group. And while precedented context could only boost sales men of al lage groups were less anxious of these classes of supplements. • sucof saerA — stnemges sucoF - 44 -