‘Dry January’ beats diets and fitness for Britons

Designer diets and new gym memberships are the traditional stuff of New Year resolutions but most Brits are looking to quit alcohol, according to data from Google Trends.

Figures from the online search giant show a spike in searches across the UK for “dry January” on New Year’s Day, far higher than other terms or phrases normally associated with fat-fighting and fitness fads.

But Dr Matthew Cole, a senior lecturer in sport and exercise nutrition at Birmingham City University, said he hoped people would find some healthier habits for their whole year instead of just the start.

“People probably feel they over indulged over the last few weeks,” Dr Cole said.

“A better approach is not just having a better January but a more sustainable approach the whole year round.”

The ketogenic or “keto” diet – centred around low carbohydrates and a high intake of healthy fats – was the most searched-for diet over the period since Christmas, ahead of the once-popular paleo and Atkins diets.

And people across the UK were more likely to search for “gym membership” or “gym near me” than for information about specific diets in the post-christmas period, according to the data.