Why are young people less healthy than their parents?

The developed world is very different in respect of human health to how it was ten, or twenty years ago, With the rise of new technology, you might think that today’s youngsters would be a lot healthier than their parents. After all, there are Smart wearable devices available that young people can use to monitor their physical activity and keep track of their diet.

At the same time, the whole planet is working more aggressively to reduce carbon emissions by engaging in greener, more environmentally-friendly behaviors. Despite that, young people aren’t as healthy overall as their parents’ generation. The question is, why is the world suffering from such a significant crisis when it comes to the health of younger people?

Bad habits could be killing our children

We all have bad habits, but the modern lifestyle choices that youngsters make could be making it harder for them to live healthily and sustainably. Not only is smoking more common in today’s fast-paced and stressful world, but younger generations are also using other methods to get their nicotine fix, like vaporizers which might lead to chronic problems with the lungs and respiratory system.

Also, because younger people often work longer hours and spend more time away from home exploring the world, they rely more on fast food for their nutrition. That has led to an addiction to sugar and junk foods that are gradually causing problems with obesity, high cholesterol, and the resulting cardiovascular issues.

The dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and binge-watching TV

Of course, while the younger generation might be working longer hours than their older counterparts, that doesn’t mean that they’re getting more exercise. Indeed, many of the millennial demographic and generation Z can look forward to a life spent sitting behind a desk. That means more people have sedentary lifestyles than ever before. When some young adults get home from work, they don’t often go to the gym or take a run, they sit down in front of a television to binge-watch streaming services or play on games consoles for hours at a time.

In recent years, scientists have discovered that too much time spent sitting can have a significant impact on a person’s health. The more time you spend seated in front of a computer, the more damage you do to your eyes, your muscular system, and even your spine. Unfortunately, many of the jobs that are leading the way in today’s economy include a great deal of desk work.

When you combine a sedentary working life with the fact that many younger people spend hours in front of their television sets or computers at home, a serious problem is likely to emerge. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, adults who watched more than three hours of television each day doubled their risk of premature death caused by cardiovascular problems, compared to people that watched less.

How the younger generation can start living healthier lives

Research has established that potentially harmful habits of younger people include those to do with sedentary living, poor eating habits, the ingestion of excessive alcohol, and unprotected sexual relations. For the modern world, problems caused by sedentary living could be the biggest issues, however, they are also some of the easiest to address.

Living a healthier life for most individuals starts with taking responsibility for their health. Visiting a doctor more regularly for a checkup and a blood test every once in a while could help younger people get an insight into their health, and what they need to do to improve their longevity. The occasional checkup could be all it takes to make a young adult aware of problems with their health that can be quickly fixed before they get any worse.

For example, if someone’s weight is starting to get out of control, a doctor can recommend a diet and exercise plan that they can follow to improve their health in the long-term. On the other hand, if issues with stress are causing problems like insomnia, then youngsters can learn relaxation techniques that could lead to more restful sleep patterns.

Taking a proactive approach to better health

While there are many potential health problems threatening the younger generation today, all it takes is a little bit of proactive behavior and preventative care for teenagers, children, and young adults to start living a healthier lifestyle. Whether it’s getting help to cut down on addictions to fast food, alcohol, or drugs, or simply taking the initiative and spending more time away from the couch, the road to better health starts with making the decision to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.