24% of Hungarian youth aged 15–39 are forced to follow a diet for health reasons
Research by the Youth Research Institute shows that most Hungarian young people do not consider fast food trendy, and the majority cook meals for themselves or their family members at least once a week. The shift toward conscious eating is often due to health reasons rather than current dietary trends. According to the Institute’s latest data, 24% of Hungarian youth aged 15–39 must eat health-consciously; in other words, they do not necessarily choose to diet but rather are compelled to do so because of health issues.
Broken down by age group, the proportion of those forced to eat according to some restrictions increases with age: 17% among 15–17-year-olds, 23% among 18–24-year-olds, and 25% among those aged 25 and above. There is also a gender difference – 26% for females vs. 22% for males – which may be linked to higher awareness among females, as well as to characteristics of childbearing age; certain health-related diets may become necessary due to pregnancy or family planning. The proportion is also higher in Budapest (28%) compared to rural areas (23%). According to occupational status, 25% of those that are employed, 23% of students, and only 16% of NEET youth (not in education, employment, or training) are compelled to eat health-consciously for medical reasons.
Looking at attitudes toward nutrition, one-third of 15–39-year-olds believe that there are entire food groups that are inherently harmful to health (e.g., gluten, sugar, milk, meat, etc.). The latest large-scale youth survey shows that about one-quarter of Hungarian young people consume sugary soft drinks daily, nearly half consume meat daily, and 38% drink milk every day. The proportion of those who consume raw vegetables or fruit daily is 39%, sugar-free soft drinks 15%, and vegan meat 3%. Among youth, 8% take medication daily, 12% take dietary supplements, and 26% take vitamins on a daily basis.
Increased interest in healthy eating is also reflected in the fact that nearly one-third of respondents aged 15–39 frequently consume content related to conscious eating habits on social media, a trend more typical among women (35%) and residents of Budapest (38%). Online sources of information are especially important: the Youth ’24 report shows that half of young people regularly seek health-related information online.
The focus on healthy eating is not unique to Hungary – youth nutrition problems are being addressed internationally. According to Eurostat surveys, although the vast majority of young people in the European Union report being in good health, one in five females and one in six males in the 16–29 age group reported chronic illnesses. The WHO’s 2024 report indicates that across Europe, fewer and fewer adolescents consume fruit or vegetables daily, even though eating five servings a day is recommended for a healthy adult.
The Youth Research Institute’s study was conducted in January 2025. Responses were collected through online, self-administered questionnaire-based interviews (CAWI). A total of 1,000 Hungarian youth aged 15–39 were surveyed using a representative sample.
Budapest, August 18, 2025
