Young people want to fast - majority abstains from sweets

Fasting is in: Over 60 percent of young people have already fasted

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day Christian Lent, which many non-religious people use to deliberately omit certain luxury items and consumer goods. The renunciation of sweets and alcohol is at the self-imposed goals this year again at the top. It is noteworthy that more and more young people are fasting.

Fasting in young people is becoming increasingly popular

Whether it is for religious reasons to lose weight or to do something good for your health, it is generally welcome when people take time for fasting and detoxifying. Fasting cleanses the stomach and the soul and helps to question its consumer behavior. As the health insurance DAK-health reported in a message, especially fasting more and more young people in Germany.

Fasting is in, especially among young people. As was shown in a recent survey, climbs this year for the first time the abandonment of sweets at number one in the fast-hit list - and thus displaces alcohol as the previous fasting highlight. (Image: winston / fotolia.com)

Abstaining from sweets and alcohol

Fasting is in: More than one in two Germans have deliberately avoided certain luxury foods or consumer goods for several weeks (57 percent).

This year for the first time the abandonment of sweets climbs to number one in the fast-hit list - and displaces alcohol as the previous fasting highlight. This shows a recent and representative Forsa survey on behalf of the health insurance DAK-health.

According to that, 62 percent of fasting fans would like to avoid chocolate bars & Co in the coming weeks. With alcohol, it is 61 percent. Compared to the previous year, there is a decline of ten percent here.

Fewer people want to give up television than in the previous year (minus 17 percent).

Set as concrete goal as possible

Young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are particularly open to fasting: 62 percent say they have fasted at least once. They then refrain most likely to alcohol, sweets or smoking.

One in two of them would like to forego glowing stalks in the coming weeks. An increase of 45 percent compared to the previous year - more widespread than in any other age group.

By contrast, 30- to 44-year-olds are most likely to forego sweets. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) stated that, followed closely by alcohol (62 percent).

"It is important to set a goal as fast as possible and have a plan to achieve this goal," advises Franziska Kath, DAK health psychologist. "Even with setbacks should be expected, so that the Lent is not frustration."

More time for offline friends

About one in five (21 percent) would like to be less online in the coming weeks.

73 percent stated this - 14 percent more than in the previous year. In second place follows with 68 percent less stress due to more offline time.

In addition to reducing stress, the need to spend the freed up time with real friends and family is the main reason for online fasting.

Fasting differences between man and woman

When fasting, there are clear differences between women and men. Women want to forego sweets over the next few weeks (69 percent). In men, alcohol is at the top of the fasting list with 63 percent.

There is also a clear gender difference in meat abstinence: 42 percent among fasting women and 29 percent among men.

According to the DAK survey, northern Germany seems to be particularly fast-addicted: 62 percent of respondents have already fasted.

Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia are also 61 and 60 percent above average. The people in East Germany are with 48 percent, however, rather fasting muffle. (Ad)