I live a life of perfect moderation all year round (har har) so I don’t make New Year’s resolutions and I don’t participate in Lenten fasting. But according to a study from Barna Group, conducted among 1,026 American adults, 17 percent of my peers are currently giving something up – or pledged a few weeks ago to give something up – for the pre-Easter stretch.
From Barna Group, here’s a rundown of this year’s most common Lenten abstentions:
- chocolate (30 percent)
- meat (28 percent)
- sugar (28 percent)
- soda drinks (26 percent)
- alcohol (24 percent)
- fruit (14 percent)
- butter or cream (11 percent)
- social networks (16 percent)
- smartphones (13 percent)
- television (11 percent)
- video games (10 percent)
- movies (9 percent)
- the Internet (9 percent)
- activities mentioned by fewer than 2 percent of respondents include sex, smoking and swearing
Most of these seem in the interest of self-betterment, whether going without them will help the abstainer live a more faith-focused life or not. I was surprised to see that smoking was an also-ran on the list while 14 percent were abstaining from eating fruit. Who am I to judge? I’ve certainly heard my share of strange paths to personal improvement from my group of friends, like not wearing makeup and trying to sit up straighter.
What I’m most curious about, though, is follow-through. Would Facebook and Twitter metrics show a decline in traffic that reflects the abstainers? Do sales on these “sinful” indulgences really decline? Aside from the plethora of discounted fried fish in its various forms (McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, anyone?), do marketers give any consideration to Lent? Or is this an antiquated practice that’s losing traction as time goes on?