25+ Statistics Showing Generation Z’s Impact on Wellness

While millennials changed living and wellness in their 20s by adopting healthier food and regular exercise, now the next wave of Generation Z is pushing it to a new direction. Due to advancement of technologies and its use in regular life, this generation is more handy for gadgets and software uses including smartphone, internet, and social media. 

In fact 45% of Gen Z want to be employee in the technology industry, more than any industry. Gen Z’s are even not afraid of taking wellbeing steps and are 68% more likely to take mental therapies than baby boomers. 

So, we have compiled a list of 25 statistics revealing the profound Generation Z’s Impact on Wellness. These facts and statistics reveal more about this generation’s habits and behaviour towards health and mental wellness, helps business, startups, and marketers to study, plan, and market to promote their product and services more effectively.

Quick Statistics about Generation Z on Wellness

Now as generation Z accounts for almost one third of the world’s population. Next decade is going to be theirs and whoever (brands) understands their mental and physical wellness will win. 

Here’re some quick facts and statistics about generations Z’s wellness behaviour and patterns – 

• 66% of Gen Z use wellness apps and fitness trackers to monitor their health.
• Work-life balance is top priority to the workplace for 37% of Gen Z employees. 
• 42% of Gen Z rely on social media to get medical information.
• 46% of Gen Z feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time.
• More than half (approx 56%) of young american age range 18 to 25 are facing overweight and obesity.  
• 60% of Gen Z prioritise healthy life over money, career, personal enjoyment. 
• Gen Z are 48% more concerned about mental health than physical health. 
• 55% of Gen Z who use a wellness app find it their own. 
• One in three Gen Z agrees that use of social media less than 2 hours has a positive impact.  
• Sexual harassment and assault reports in saurrounding cause almost half of Gen Zers stress.  

25+ Generation Z’s Health & Wellness Facts and Statistics

Smartphones are favourite 75% of generation z and increasing use of it is raising the concern about the wellbeing of this generation. 

Estimated 7 out 10 generation Z use at least one social media platform everyday, making it the primary source of stress, anxiety and socially exposed. 

The health patterns and mental concerns of the new generation is far more priority than its previous generations like millennials.   

Here’re 25+ facts and statistics about generation Z and impact on health & wellness –

• A majority of Gen Z, specifically 60%, place a higher emphasis on leading a healthy lifestyle compared to prioritising money, career, personal enjoyment, or family.
• For 48% of Generation Z, the primary obstacle to adopting a healthier lifestyle is a shortage of time.
• 32% of Generation Z individuals express that a favourable work-life balance is a key factor influencing their decision to work for their current employer.
• In comparison to 40% of other generations, 66% of Gen Z relies on digital tools like wellness apps and fitness trackers to track and manage their health.
• Gen Z members are 20% more inclined than their counterparts to openly discuss their mental health at the workplace, and four out of ten have explored at least one form of alternative treatment.
• 24% of Generation Z use a fitness or sleep tracker, while 18% engaged in digitally guided workouts, and 17% utilised an app to track their diet. 
• Almost twice as many Gen Z as non-gen Z are using an app to monitor their overall health.
• 44% of Gen Z are willing to share personal health information in exchange for a more detailed understanding of their health, a trend that holds critical implications for healthcare companies.
• Gen Z faces unique challenges, being 83% more likely than other generations to feelings of anxiety and 86% more prone to experiencing bouts of depression.
• Gen Z actively addresses mental health concerns, with 39% have regularly engaged in in-person or online therapy over the past two years.
• Forty-two percent of Gen Z depend on social media for medical information, whereas only 20% of non-Gen Z respondents relied on it.
• In terms of seeking treatment or therapy, Gen Z exhibited higher rates (37%) compared to Millennials (35%), Gen X’ers (26%), Baby Boomers (22%), and the Silent Generation (15%).
• Gen Z expressed the greatest concern about their health impeding their ability to fully experience life, with 75% expressing worry, in contrast to baby boomers at 63%.
• 92.1% Gen Z individuals use screens before bedtime most of the time, and out of them 87.45% find it challenging to reduce their nighttime screen time.
• Nearly half of Generation Z individuals (46%) and four in 10 millennials (39%) acknowledge feeling stressed or anxious consistently.
• Women in Generation Z report higher levels of stress and anxiety compared to men, with figures at 54% versus 37%.
• Over 60% of Gen Z face stress and anxiety due to workload, inadequate work/life balance, unfavourable team cultures and other work-related factors.
• Nearly half of both Generation Z individuals (48%) and millennials (49%) believe that social media positively impacts their mental health. However, 46% of Gen Z individuals express that social media makes them feel lonely and inadequate, and 45% feel pressured to maintain an online presence.
• A significant 53% of Generation Z members face considerable stress related to reports of sexual harassment and assault in nearby.
• Gen Z were two to three times more likely to planning for, or attempting suicide in the 12 months from late 2019 to late 2020.
• One in four Gen Z experiencing higher emotional distress (25%), which is nearly double the levels reported by millennials and Gen X respondents.
• Gen Z prioritises mental health as their top concern, with 28 percent ranking it above physical health, which comes in second place at 19 percent.
• Less than half of Generation Z individuals (47%) perceive themselves as “thriving” in their lives, representing the lowest rates among any generation in the United States.
• Exercise rates within Gen Z witnessed a decline from 2019 to 2022, with fewer than half of individuals aged 18 to 25 engaging in physical activity at least once a week during the first three months of 2022.
• Over 56% of adults in Gen Z, roughly Americans aged 18 to 25, are classified as overweight or obese, heightening the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.
• Among Gen Z individuals who spend less than 2 hours daily on social media, 33% believe it positively impacts their mental wellness, while 31% of those who spend more than 2 hours daily perceive a negative impact on their mental wellness.
• Approximately 49% of Gen Z agrees that social media provides them with emotional support and boosts self-confidence.
• When it comes to wellness apps, 55% of Generation Z discover them independently, while 32% rely on healthcare providers, including physicians, doctors, and insurance providers.

Key Takeaways & Opportunities:

In coming years, generation Z will continue forging its path in wellness and mental health. The role of healthcare providers and technology will be primary in catering to their evolving wellness needs. 

Based on these facts and statistics, here’re some behavioural patterns and wellness impact of generation Z: 

• Generation Z places a higher attention on mental health than their physical well-being.
• Despite social media being a significant source of stress and anxiety for Gen Z, these platforms also serve as primary sources for mental health solutions.
• The utilisation of wellbeing apps and health trackers is expected to persist in gaining popularity, particularly among Generation Z.
• The decline in exercise rates and the notable prevalence of overweight or obese individuals within this generation underscore the immediate need for targeted interventions and support.

As for opportunities, businesses and startups targeting Generation Z, can use these statistics to offer insights to shape products and services. Given the prioritisation of mental health over physical well-being, businesses can tailor wellness solutions to address specific mental health challenges. 

Leveraging social media, companies can position themselves as providers of both products and support, tapping into the growing trend of seeking mental health solutions and community engagement.

To address concerns about declining exercise rates, companies can innovate fitness offerings that resonate with Gen Z’s preferences, promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Citations & References:

Gen Z & Their Impact on Healthcare Industry by World Economic Forum.

Stress in America’s Gen Z by American Psychological Association. 

Know Diabetes by Heart by American Heart & Diabetes Association. 

Behavioral-health Challenges Survey on Gen Z by McKinsey & Company.

Mental Health of Gen Zs and Millennials 2022 Whitepaper by Deloitte. 

Gen Z in  STEM Education and Careers by Gallup Walton. 

COVID and the Next Generation of Fitness Consumers By IHRSA.

Screen Time and Sleep: Survey by Sleepopolis. 

Trends in Obesity Prevalence Among Adults by Jama Network. 

Caught Between Tradition and Modernity by Amrita Banta in Global Wellness Summit 2019. 

The Global 2022 Gen Z & Millennial Survey by Deloitte. 

Gen Z Mental Health: The Impact of Tech and Social Media by McKinsey Health Institute. 

Gen Z and Millennial survey 2023 by Deloitte.