Have you tried screaming therapy, laughing yoga or drinking saltwater?
A third of Brits who took part in a recent poll said they have tried out wacky fads, the survey found almost half have tried drinking apple cider vinegar, a well-known fad advocated by numerous celebrities.
“This January, I’m officially renouncing fad dabbling – it’s a bad enough month already, why punish yourself by giving up what you love or embarking upon some hilarious new hobby with all the gear and no idea?
“I’ve tried fads in the past to feel better. I thought a colonic could make me less tired and give me brighter skin. A very wise friend said: ‘just take a nap instead’ and he was right. It was the worst experience of my entire life.” – comedian Katherine Ryan
Another 44 per cent have used charcoal on their teeth, and 24 per cent have spiralized their food. Dog yoga, vampire facials, cupping and eating baby food are also among the bizarre fads Brits have given a go.
The research, commissioned by Walkers Oven Baked, found the popularity of unusual fads is being fuelled by Gen Z and millennials. Almost half (49 per cent) of 18-24-year-olds admitted to dabbling in a fad compared to just 28 per cent of those aged 45 and over.
It also emerged that Brits spend more than £486 million a year on these crazes – an average of £29 per person – yet most will abandon their new ‘hobby’ after just nine days.
Following the findings, self-confessed ‘fad dabbler’ and comedian Katherine Ryan be recruited to encourage the nation to ditch the fads and opt for achievable resolutions and simple lifestyle swaps in 2021 by Walkers.
“Why set ourselves up for failure when we absolutely know better? Instead, just make small, sustainable changes…” – comedian Katherine Ryan
The study also found that of the 32 per cent who have tried a new trend, 42 per cent did so to make themselves ‘feel better’. The north east was revealed as the nation’s ‘fad capital’, with 42 per cent of adults in the region confessing to giving a weird trend a go.
But in contrast, 72 per cent of those in Northern Ireland claimed to have never tried one. In spite of all of this, 92 per cent of adults who plan to make a new year’s resolution still believe that it is achievable.
Top 20 UK Fads
1. Drinking apple cider vinegar
2. Whitening teeth with charcoal
3. Food spiralizer
4. Drinking cups of saltwater to help hydrate, flush out toxins and aid with digestion
5. Cupping – a type of deep tissue massage to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being
6. Eating only certain colours of food e.g. purple food diet
7. Eating baby food
8. Laughter yoga
9. Tae-Bo – a type of workout that incorporates martial arts techniques such as kicks and punches
10. Cryotherapy – exposure to freezing temperatures to help with pain relief
11. Coffee enema or other elective colonic to detoxify the body
12. Screaming therapy – screaming while standing in warrior pose
13. Putting sticks of charcoal in water
14. Prancercising – a fitness method based on a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward, similar to a horse’s gait
15. Cow cuddling – a trend believed to promote positivity and reduce stress
16. Cockroach milk – a milk derived from ‘cockroach crystals’, a part of the insect found in its gut, rich in essential amino acids and protein.
17. Dog yoga
18. Goat yoga
19. Hay bathing – bathing in warm hay to help with pain relief and energise the body
20. Vampire facials
Katherine Ryan can be seen chewing more highbrow concerns on Sky Arts Late (pictured) the late-night dissection of the arts with a range of opinionated, brazen and brave debate reacting and responding to the current climate from across the UK’s Culture scene.
An antidote to the dumbed-down and bitesize, a new no-holds barred space for a grown-up, lively discussion, with performances and star guests adding original perspectives and debates driven by topics and themes that can also be tied into the biggest arts stories of the month and to Sky Arts content and seasons.
