0 comments
Despite drinking less and having a greater interest in fitness, Gen Z still faces worsening mental health, increasing obesity rates and dwindling resources for various disabilities. Experts warn that they could risk being left behind.
A new report by The King’s Fund warns that the government must do more to improve the health of Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the coming years.
Written by Danielle Jefferies, this latest study outlines both the achievements and failures of UK government policy in addressing Gen Z health issues. It credits the rollout of the HPV vaccine in schools for a drastic fall in cervical cancer cases, for example, as well as a national health strategy that ran throughout the noughties for successfully halving teenage pregnancies.
Gen Z was also found to have lower rates of drinking, drug usage and smoking than previous generations of young people, suggesting that government initiatives had been successful in attempting to improve public health.
However, while much of the data was positive, Jefferies noted that poverty rates are now highest among Gen Z compared to any other age group. Low income is often associated with higher rates of obesity, and the study comments that there has been a ‘steady increase’ in the proportion of those aged 16-24 that are classed as ‘overweight or obese.’
It’s worth mentioning here that the actual number of overweight Gen Zers or Gen Alphas in the report varies across both age groups and within different contexts.
We’ve noted that many media outlets – including LBC, The Telegraph, the Daily Mail, and the Independent – are currently stating that obesity rates have increased ‘from 31% in 2002 to 37% in 2022.’ As far as we can tell, this information is incorrect and cannot be traced back to a particular source.
In fact, in 2022, the NHS stated that only 14% of 16 to 24-year-olds are classified as ‘obese’, which contradicts the claims made by the above publications. Misinformation at its finest, folks.
Obesity rates aside, Jefferies highlights that Gen Z’s relationship with the NHS is evolving, and not necessarily in a good way. Those aged 16-35 have had worse experiences with national healthcare services than their older peers and are more likely to lean on private firms and companies if necessary.
‘The government either needs to re-engage Gen Z with NHS services or health policy needs to increasingly look beyond the NHS to shift healthy outcomes,’ writes Jefferies.
Despite Gen Z’s tendency to focus on running clubs and fitness regimes, poor health and weight gain is predicted to be a massive problem in the coming decades. A report earlier this year warned that half of all adults are likely to be overweight or obese by 2050, with one third of all young people being classed as ‘unhealthy.’
What’s causing the shift?
The problem isn’t exactly simple, but experts credit a growing, global focus on ultraprocessed foods that are cheap, high in calories, lacking in nutrients, and addictive as the main culprit. Couple this with declining rates of physical activity, higher screen times, and indirect factors such as climate change, and you’ve a perfect storm for unhealthy living.
Mental health issues are a huge issue for Gen Z too, perhaps unsurprisingly. Jefferies writes that the rate of mental health disorders for 17 to 19-year-olds has doubled between 2017 and 2023. Disability rates have also risen, with the proportion of those aged 15-24 with a disability now double what it was in 2011.
