After three years of pandemic: Fasting remains highly popular

21.02.2023 12:39

The trend towards fasting remains unbroken even after the end of the coronavirus restrictions: 63 percent of those surveyed nationwide consider it beneficial to their health to deliberately abstain from stimulants or consumer goods for several weeks. In 2012, this figure was around half of the German population.

By far the most people want to abstain from alcohol, sweets, and meat. Significantly fewer respondents than last year want to reduce their use of digital media and the internet. Overall, roughly one in five people is behaving healthier now than before the end of the coronavirus restrictions. This is shown by a current and representative *Forsa survey commissioned by DAK-Gesundheit, which is conducted annually.

Sixty-one percent of respondents stated that they have fasted at least once in their lives. Abstaining from alcohol and sweets was the most frequently mentioned fasting activity, with 73 percent each. In third place was the willingness to abstain from eating meat for a while. A temporary cessation of smoking remains a popular trend, with 43 percent of respondents aiming for it. Thirty-nine percent would still like to switch off their television for a while. This figure has remained virtually unchanged since the beginning of the pandemic. However, the declining willingness to disconnect from the online world for a while, the so-called "digital detox," is striking. Only 19 percent indicated that this was the area they would most likely want to abstain from. This is the lowest figure since the survey began in 2014, when the figure was 31 percent. According to the DAK-Gesundheit survey, almost one in five respondents would also like to leave their car parked for a few weeks.

Fasting differences between men and women

Differences between men and women during fasting are particularly evident in terms of diet: In the DAK survey, women were more likely than men to say they wanted to abstain from sweets (77 percent) or meat (62 percent). The sexes also differ regarding smoking: 48 percent of men fasting compared to 39 percent of women. However, abstaining from alcohol remains the most common goal for both sexes, at 73 percent each.

Fasting enthusiasts, especially in the south

The DAK-Gesundheit survey also shows that participation in Lent is particularly high in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. There, 48 and 43 percent, respectively, stated that they had fasted several times. In the eastern German states, however, the figure is only 32 percent. While 12 percent of those surveyed nationwide without prior experience could imagine consciously abstaining in the future, this is out of the question for 23 percent.

Impact of the pandemic on health behavior

Regarding their stress levels, diet, physical activity, or consumption of media or stimulants such as alcohol and cigarettes, one in five respondents stated that they have behaved more healthily overall since the start of the coronavirus pandemic than before. Fourteen percent report behaving less healthily than before.

Lent 2023

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends 40 days later on Easter Sunday. Strictly speaking, it lasts 46 days, but the six Sundays are not counted. In 2023, Lent begins on February 22nd and ends on April 8th.