Millennials vs. Gen Z: Which Generation is Healthier?
Blue Daily
| 5 min read
Key Takeaways
- Gen Z engages in fewer traditional risky behaviors than millennials, including smoking, drinking alcohol and having sex during adolescence.
- Despite greater mental health awareness, Gen Z reports poorer mental well-being and lower life satisfaction than millennials.
- Social media increasingly shapes Gen Z health decisions, replacing traditional internet searches with peer-driven health information.
- Rising concerns around obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity may influence the long-term health outlook for Gen Z.
The oldest member of Gen Z is turning 29 years old this year. They have been required to carry their own health insurance for a few years now. So, how healthy is Gen Z? And how do they compare to their elders – millennials?
Gen Z is defined by the Pew Research Center as anyone who was born from 1997 to 2012, whereas millennials are anyone born from 1981 to 1996.
Overall, Gen Z appears healthier than millennials were at the same age when measuring smoking, alcohol use, sexual activity and other risky behaviors. However, Gen Z reports poorer mental health, lower life satisfaction and faces growing concerns around obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity.
From Dr. Google to Dr. TikTok
Dr. Angela Seabright, family medicine physician at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, says she finds often millennials and Gen Z can share some similarities in their approach to health care.
“Millennials and Gen Z have a different outlook with health care: they look more for convenience, using digital technology and apps,” Seabright said. “Older generations may have a long-standing relationship with their doctor. They’ve built trust and loyalty, so they’ll go to them first.”
But the use of social media is truly what sets millennials and Gen Z apart. While younger generations are more likely to seek out their own health care information in general, they are getting it from different sources.
Seabright sees it as the shift from “Dr. Google” with millennials to “Dr. TikTok” with Gen Z.
“Younger generations are going to turn to social media and search a hashtag, like #longcovid,” Seabright said, explaining they are more apt to try out an unproven supplement or home remedy they hear about from a peer versus going to a professional.
Gen Z vs. Millennials: Health comparison
- Mental health: Advantage millennials
- Smoking and vaping: Advantage Gen Z (except vaping)
- Alcohol use: Advantage Gen Z
- Physical activity: Advantage millennials
- Obesity and chronic disease risk: Too early to determine, but a growing concern for Gen Z
- Digital health adoption: Advantage Gen Z
Mental health
Dr. Seabright says she sees younger generations as more comfortable talking about their mental health and seeking help than older generations.
But while Gen Z may be more aware of their mental health, their generation is also facing some of the biggest hurdles.
The COVID pandemic interrupted many critical milestones and traditions for members of Gen Z – as many schools cancelled social events, pushed classes to online learning and delayed graduation ceremonies. Some students started college online, instead of in person. For Gen Z, the future was put on pause – and early research indicates it took a toll on their outlook.
A 2025 UNICEF Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health report found found that 6 in 10 Gen Z respondents feel overwhelmed by current events and news. The report also found that only about half know where to find mental health resources and just 55% believe they have effective coping mechanisms. Despite these challenges, 60% remain hopeful about contributing to a better future.
On top of that, Gen Z rate their mental health lower than their older peers: 36% of Gen Z consider their mental health “fair” or “poor,” compared to 27% of millennials.
Risky behaviors
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking health behaviors of teens and young adults since 1991 in its Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey. This report shows significant declines in some of the behaviors experts consider to be risky when comparing millennials to Gen Z.
Overall, risky behaviors adolescents engage in are on the decline: which means members of Gen Z are smoking less, drinking less, having less sex and using cannabis less than millennials did when they were that age.
Physical activity
There are several indications that millennials are more physically active than members of Gen Z. A State of Our Health report from Murphy Research indicated exercise rates among Gen Z dropped from 2019 to 2022 – and in the first three months of 2022, less than half of people ages 18 to 25 exercised at least once a week.
Rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity
Experts believe the number of young people under the age of 20 with type 2 diabetes is likely to increase more rapidly in future decades. This forecasted trend is based on how rates of type 2 diabetes have increased among young people in the past 20 years, including both Gen Z and millennials.
This is closely linked to rates of childhood obesity and obesity.
About 40% of adults age 18 to 39 are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese puts individuals at a higher risk for many chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressures and some cancers.
Some consider millennials to be one of the heaviest generations. In the U.K., researchers found at least seven in 10 people born in the millennial generations will be overweight or obese before they reach middle age. Baby boomers only faced rates of five in 10.
Yet millennials are already seeing the impact of obesity on their health. Research funded by the American Cancer Society found the risk of cancer is increasing for millennials – with some cancers only typically seen in elderly individuals increasing among younger adults.
Experts are closely watching how the all-digital Gen Z copes with the pressures and anxieties of being a young adult after a global pandemic. As they become the next generation of health care consumers, they will drive innovation and change.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Related:
