New Year, same struggle: Aussies’ resolutions won’t last past January

Sydney, Australia, 1 January 2026 – Australians are stepping into 2026 full of optimism, but new research from global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal, shows that Aussies’ New Year’s resolutions won’t likely last beyond the first days into the New Year. 

The national poll of more than 1,000 Australians found that one in five people surveyed (20%) broke their resolutions within the first week of January last year. By the end of the month last year, more than three in four (77%) respondents fell off track, suggesting that almost the whole entire population ditched their New Year’s resolutions all together only into the first month of the new year. This will likely come at a cost, as the data revealed that nearly four in ten (39%) Aussies surveyed are ready to spend $1,000 or more on trying to reach their New Year's resolutions this year, pointing to the extent many are willing to go in order to achieve their goals. 

Despite their best intentions, while almost four in ten (37%) Australians surveyed plan to set a New Year's resolution this year, most are unsuccessful in sticking to their goals in the long term. In fact, over half (55%) of people surveyed have repeated the same resolution, pointing to unrealistic New Year’s goals among most. 

Nutritionist and MyFitnessPal ambassador Michaela Sparrow said that rather than motivation alone, the reason why many lose track of their goals often lies in how we set resolutions in the first place. “At this time of year we often aim for drastic changes, but when goals are too big or too generic, such as ‘eating better’ or ‘be more active’, it’s simply too hard to achieve them. Building small and consistent habits that are more likely to stick is what leads to real results over time.” 

When it comes to the top goals for 2026, weight loss remains a priority for Australians, with over half (57%) of respondents saying they intend to shed weight this year. Other popular goals include more exercise (52%), less stress (37%) and better sleep (33%). 

For Australians aiming to lose weight, targets are remarkably consistent across different age groups, with an overall average weight loss goal of 11kg. This is a 10% increase in the amount of weight looking to be lost by the average Aussie surveyed in 2026.

While the data suggest that feeling healthier and more energised is the key motivator (72%) for Australians surveyed who want to shed kilos this year, followed by improved long-term health (60%) and wanting to feel more confident or improve their body image (53%), almost one third (27%) are concerningly looking to resort following a restrictive diet.  

“While it's encouraging to see Australians taking their health seriously, restrictive approaches rarely lead to sustainable results. Balance should always be the solution. Small, realistic improvements, such as including an extra portion of greens every meal, are far more effective than any extreme resets,” continued Michaela. 

The MyFitnessPal spokesperson adds that rather than treating January as a one-shot transformation, Australians should focus on one meaningful habit at a time, building confidence through progress they can see. Nutrition tracking tools that help people monitor their macro intake and plan what they’re eating day-to-day may help reduce guesswork and support making progress towards realistic goals. 

“Having a simple plan for the week ahead, such as planning a few meals in advance, alongside incorporating a variety of macro-friendly treats, rich in protein and fibers, may make healthy choices feel far more doable when life gets busy. Tracking your meals and keeping an eye on progress over time through tools like MyFitnessPal may make change feel less daunting and more sustainable in the long term, ”  added Michaela. 

To learn more about building healthier habits in 2026, visit www.myfitnesspal.com or download the app for free via the App Store or Google Play