Forget dieting, daily ice-baths and zero caffeine top Gen Z's list of New Year's health resolutions
Young people plan to take far more drastic measures to improve their wellbeing, such as taking daily ice baths or cutting out caffeine and sugar entirely.
By GEORGE ODLING, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: 15:49 GMT, 1 January 2026 | Updated: 15:52 GMT, 1 January 2026
A simple pledge to stick to a diet or fitness regime following weeks of festive over-indulgence would once suffice for a New Year's resolution.
Not so for today’s millennials and Gen Z.
Young people plan to take far more drastic measures to improve their wellbeing, such as taking daily ice baths or cutting out caffeine and sugar entirely.
Almost a fifth of 18-40 year-olds plan to endure daily ice therapy for its health benefits in 2026, a survey of 2,000 young people found.
While uncomfortable, ice baths, cold showers and plunges promote muscle recovery and can improve circulation while offering an endorphin boost.
Almost a quarter of the young people surveyed are committing to consuming absolutely no caffeine this year, while a fifth have vowed not to touch any sugar and 19 per cent to avoid ultra-processed food.
Nutritionists have warned that some of these pledges are unrealistic and could even be harmful, however.
Almost a fifth of 18-40 year-olds have said they will endure daily ice therapy in 2026
Almost one in ten plan to regularly take a vitamin IV drip in another radical attempt to stay healthy this year.
Sophie Trotman, from food delivery service Frive, which commissioned the survey, said an ‘all or nothing approach’ could backfire. ‘Instead of cutting everything out, enjoy sweet foods mindfully,’ she advised.
‘Slow down, sit down, and actually taste what you’re eating rather than grazing absent-mindedly.
‘Pairing sugary foods with protein or healthy fats - like yoghurt or nuts - can help prevent energy crashes and make healthier habits easier to stick to long term.’
The survey found 23 per cent of young people had committed to daily meditation and a similar number to a regular ‘digital detox’ – a set amount of time without a smartphone or tablet.
More than a fifth have pledged to fast intermittently, which can improve metabolic health and brain function as well as help with weight loss.
Almost one in ten plan to regularly take a vitamin IV drip in another radical attempt to stay healthy this year.
And an astonishing eight per cent of those aged between 18 and 40 have pledged to remain celibate throughout 2026.
As many as 76 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial Brits say the New Year's resolutions of their parents' generation, such as low fat diets, celebrity exercise videos and slimming clubs, are pointless.
Ms Trotman said modern life had become so busy that sustainable habits were more important than ever.
‘Focusing on simple things like balanced meals, immune-supportive foods and not taking an all-or-nothing approach to sugar can help people stay energised and committed long beyond January,' she added.