Why millennials will be unhealthier than their parents by middle age

New report warns that work and housing
worries facing younger generation may lead to ‘lifestyle-related
diseases’

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The report, published by the Health Foundation think tank,
suggests that problems with housing and employment among people
currently in their 20s and 30s is likely to lead to a higher risk
of lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and
diabetes by the time they hit middle age.

The trend is “linked to long-term stress, anxiety, depression or
lower quality of life”, according to the study, which also found
that millennials are the first to earn less money than their
parents’ generation did at the same age.

“The report says that this may have health consequences because
trends such as graduates taking non-graduate jobs, zero-hours
contracts and the ‘gig’ economy can reduce well-being,” The Daily Telegraph says.

A “secure home” is a “building block” for good future health,
according to the researchers. However, just 31% of the 2,000 people
aged between 22 and 26 who took part in the survey said they had a
strong support networks while growing up.

Only 46% of subjects said they had enough financial and
practical family support, while 49% said they had emotional support
from family.

Jo Bibby, the foundation’s policy director, told The Times: “There are already signs that the
gains made in improving the health of previous generations may well
be eroded by the precariousness and instability of the lives many
young people are facing.”

Michael Marmot, professor of epidemiology and public health at
University College London, agreed that “we may be storing up
problems for the future, in addition to whatever problems of mental
illness, crime and the like that may be happening right now”.