A recent survey of over 600 regular churchgoers has revealed significant differences in Christian fasting practices, with distinct trends across age and denominations.

Commissioned by Green Christian, the survey found that fasting during Lent remains common, especially among Orthodox (85 per cent) and Roman Catholic (79 per cent) churchgoers.

However, fasting from "all food for a short period" is most prevalent in Black Majority Churches (94 per cent) and Pentecostal (83 per cent) communities.

Younger Christians, 61 per cent of those aged 18-44, are more likely to fast during Lent compared to older churchgoers, 43 per cent of those aged 65+, with women (55 per cent) also fasting more than men (46 per cent).

Additionally, 22 per cent of respondents fast from meat on Fridays during Lent, a practice most common in Orthodox (85 per cent) and Roman Catholic (53 per cent) communities.

Cat Jenkins, Food Project Officer at Green Christian, told Premier that although their organisation focuses on fasting from food, people can fast in many different ways.

"Many people choose to fast from things like TV or social media to bring a little bit of self-discipline into their lives," she said.

Jenkins also mentioned how churches need to be "prompting people to consider their relationship with food and (how to have a) more biblical relationship with food, which may encourage churches to think about how we can model how food is grown, where we buy it, where it comes from".

Tim Cooper, Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Design and Consumption at Nottingham Trent University, explained that the differences in fasting practices reflect a mix of historical traditions, theological beliefs, and cultural trends. He noted: "Fasting is a means by which many Christians integrate the spiritual and material dimensions of life.

"While for some it may be partly motivated by a desire for improved health, other motives may be a concern about over-consumption, in its many forms, or a desire to exercise personal discipline in a society seen by many as unduly liberal. In this sense, it represents a form of counterculturalism."