Diet statistics Australia

It's still early in the year and Aussies are resolving to prioritise their health in 2024. Our research found 39% of people have made 'eating healthier' a New Year's resolution. In fact, it's the most common resolution, alongside improving fitness.

How many Australians follow a diet?

According to the research, 24% of Australians follow a diet of some kind.

Men (20%) are less likely than women (28%) to be on a diet, but younger generations are more likely to switch up their eating habits.

2 in 5 gen Z Australians (39%) claim to follow a diet of some kind, closely followed by gen Y (28%). Baby boomers are more liberal with what they eat, with just 18% saying they are on a diet.

How many people will try a new diet in 2024?

More than 1 in 4 Australians (27%) will try a new diet this year.

Gen Z are the most interested in changing up their eating habits, with 43% planning to try a new diet this year, compared to just 10% of baby boomers.

The eastern states are a more common place for dieters. Those from Victoria are the most likely to be attempting a new food regime this year (31%), followed by Victorians (28%). This is compared to just 19% of South Australians.

What are the most popular diets in 2024?

Finder's research found the keto, gluten-free, and vegetarian diets are the top trending diets of 2024, with 10% planning to have a crack at each of these regimes.

Finder's research revealed Aussies are most eager to try intermittent fasting (15%) in 2024.

The top trending diets are the keto (10%), pescetarian (9%), and vegetarian diets (9%).

This is followed by the vegan (8%), gluten-free (8%), and FODMAP diets (i.e. eliminating certain foods that tend to cause symptoms for people with IBS) (8%).

A further 7% will strip their cupboards of processed foods and attempt a paleo diet.

Men (13%) and women (17%) are most interested in trying intermittent fasting.

Men are also aspiring to follow the keto diet (9%), while the keto and vegetarian diet are most popular among women, with 11% planning to take a crack at both.

Gen Z are most interested in intermittent fasting (21%) and going gluten-free (18%), while gen X are more likely to try intermittent fasting (12%) and the keto diet (8%).

How to make your diet stick

Start small. As with any resolution, play the long-term game. Instead of making drastic changes, try taking small steps every day. If your goal is to ditch meat, start with 1 meat-free day a week and go from there. If your goal is to reduce your sugar intake, swap the soda for orange juice to phase out your cravings over time. Changing your habits slowly will make it feel like a natural transition.

Grab a buddy. Starting a healthy diet on your own can seem intimidating, so why not face the challenge with someone else? Having a friend will keep you motivated and accountable, so you’re more likely to maintain your new healthy lifestyle. Plus, they can be your workout buddy too!

Make it affordable. Don’t listen to any business that tries to sell you a fitness program or home delivery meal service as part of a diet. The healthiest foods – like seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes – are also the most affordable foods, and can be found at your local supermarket. To save money, stock up on bulk items like frozen veggies, canned beans and big bags of brown rice and forget about the meal replacement shakes and superfoods.

Written by

Sophie Wallis

Analyst

Sophie Wallis is a senior insights analyst with a passion for data storytelling. She spends her time turning complex data into digestible stories and uncovering new consumer trends. When she isn't working, you'll find her planning her next overseas holiday or bingeing on a big novel. Sophie has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Melbourne. See full bio

Co-written by

Joshua Godfrey

Insights analyst

Joshua Godfrey is an insights analyst for Finder. Josh manages Finder's monthly Consumer Sentiment Tracker and quarterly reports which examine the financial issues currently affecting Australians. He has a Bachelor of Business and Diploma in Innovation from the University of Technology, Sydney where he studied finance and marketing. See full bio

Joshua's expertise

Joshua has written 24 Finder guides across topics including:

• Data and analytics
• Money trends