Recently born generations may spend more years in poor health
Millennials and gen Z are more likely to live with obesity and report mental health difficulties earlier in their lives than the baby boomers and generation X, according to a new review of studies comparing UK birth cohorts.
The trend, described by researchers as a ‘generational health drift’, suggests that more recently born generations may spend more years living in ill health than their earlier born counterparts.
What we asked you
The review drew on evidence from several UK birth cohort studies, including Next Steps, which follow the same people throughout their lives. Researchers compared the health of different generations, including baby boomers born in 1946 and 1958, generation X born in 1970, millennials born in 1989-90 (that’s you!) and gen Z born in 2000-02.
What the researchers found
Drawing on evidence from 51 research papers published up to June 2024, the review revealed:
- Rates of childhood overweight and obesity were highest among gen Z.
- Diabetes in midlife (age 44-48) almost doubled from 3.1% among the baby boomers to 5.9% in generation X.
- Gen Z exhibited higher levels of mental ill-health in adolescence compared to earlier born groups.
- Levels of life satisfaction were lower among millennials than generation X.
The researchers said the findings have implications for investment needed to care for increasing numbers living with long-term health conditions. Health has worsened despite declines in smoking, increasing educational attainment, and improvements in material circumstances early in life.
Why this research matters
By 2050, a quarter of the British population will be aged 65 or over which will increase demands on health and social care systems and the economy. As such, it is important that people born more recently live not only longer but also in good health to meet the challenges of population ageing.
The findings raise important questions about why health appears to be getting worse across generations. The researchers do not believe this is simply because people are living longer, as differences in health can be seen from an early age Similarly, the findings were consistent across both self-reported and objectively measured health outcomes, making it unlikely that the pattern is simply the result of changes in how health is measured.
“We’re seeing the consequences of preventable social and environmental exposures that have shaped population health over time and across generations. The generational health drift has serious implications for policy, planning, and the funding allocations needed to be able to support a greater number of people living with long-term health conditions.”
In the press
The Independent – Young people in UK more sick than previous generations
The Mirror – Younger generations get sick earlier due to obesity and mental illness, study shows
ITVX – Young people in UK more sick than previous generations
Read the full research report
‘The Generational Health Drift: A Systematic Review of Evidence from the British Birth Cohort Studies,’ by Laura Gimeno, Dario Moreno-Agostino, Martin Danka, Yiling Guo, Alice Goisis, Jennifer B Dowd and George B Ploubidis was published in Population Studies in May 2026.
