Mental and physical health issues, along with concerning behaviors, are on an alarming rise in Gen X and Gen Y, according to a national study

A new national study reveals a troubling trend: recent generations are experiencing worse health compared to their parents and grandparents at the same age. Researchers found that Generation X and Generation Y exhibit poorer physical health, higher rates of unhealthy behaviors like alcohol use and smoking, and increased levels of depression and anxiety.

The findings suggest that younger generations may face higher rates of disease and mortality than previous generations. Hui Zheng, lead author of the study and professor of sociology at The Ohio State University, stated, “The worsening health profiles we found in Gen X and Gen Y are alarming. If we don’t find a way to slow this trend, we are potentially going to see an expansion of morbidity and mortality rates in the United States as these generations get older.”

Zheng conducted the research with Paola Echave, a graduate student in sociology at Ohio State. Their findings were published online on March 18, 2021, in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–2016) and the National Health Interview Survey (1997–2018), both conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. The researchers analyzed physical health using eight markers of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and diabetes. These markers included waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index (BMI). They also examined chronic inflammation and renal function using additional measures.

The results showed a decline in physical health from the Baby Boomer generation through Gen X (born 1965–1980) and Gen Y (born 1981–1999). For white individuals, the increase in metabolic syndrome was the primary factor, while Black Americans, particularly men, experienced a rise in chronic inflammation.

“The declining health trends in recent generations are a shocking finding,” Zheng said. “It suggests we may have a challenging health prospect in the United States in the coming years.”

While the study did not comprehensively explore the reasons behind this decline, the researchers examined two potential factors: smoking and obesity. Smoking did not explain the health decline, and while obesity contributed to the rise in metabolic syndrome, it did not account for the increase in chronic inflammation.

Mental health trends were also concerning. Levels of anxiety and depression rose with each generation of white individuals, starting from the War Babies generation (born 1943–1945) through Gen Y. For Black individuals, these mental health indicators increased up to the early Baby Boomers but have remained relatively stable since then.

Unhealthy behaviors showed worrying patterns as well. Heavy drinking increased across generations for white individuals and Black males, particularly after late-Gen X (born 1973–1980). Street drug use peaked among late-Boomers (born 1956–1964), declined, and then rose again for late-Gen X. For Hispanic individuals, drug use has steadily increased since the early Baby Boomers.

Surprisingly, the probability of having ever smoked increased across generations for all groups, despite overall declines in cigarette consumption since the 1970s. Zheng suggested, “One possibility is that people in older generations are quitting smoking in larger numbers while younger generations are more likely to start smoking. But we need further research to see if that is correct.”

Zheng warned that these findings may only be an early indication of future health challenges. “People in Gen X and Gen Y are still relatively young, so we may be underestimating their health problems. When they get older and chronic diseases become more prevalent, we’ll have a better view of their health status.”

The study highlights a concerning trajectory for public health in the United States. Zheng noted, “Our results suggest that without effective policy interventions, these disturbing trends won’t be temporary but a battle we’ll have to continue to fight.”

Sources - 

https://sociology.osu.edu/people/zheng.64
https://sociology.osu.edu/
https://academic.oup.com/aje/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aje/kwab076/6178413
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm