This seriously just added fuel to the anti-millennials fire. According to a new study from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), the millennial generation is not as healthy as Gen Xers were at the same age. In fact, the millennial generation has experienced a double-digit increase in eight out of the 10 major health conditions, “ranked by adverse health impact,” as BCBS notes, in just three years.
Although 83% of millennials consider themselves to be healthy, only 68% of the generation (who were between the ages of 21 and 36 at the time of the study in 2017) have a primary care physician. Furthermore, BCBS found, on average, the millennial generation experiences a major health decline at age 27.
Conditions that affect millennials the most are diagnoses like major depression, hyperactivity, Type II diabetes, high cholesterol, and substance/alcohol/tobacco use disorders.
In comparison to the generation that came promptly before the millennials — Gen X, who are currently aged between 40 and 54 — millennials aged 34 to 36 are drastically less healthy than Gen Xers were at the same age. For instance, there is an 18% higher prevalence of major depression within that age bracket of the millennial generation than there was in Gen X.
And there’s a 19% increase in Type II diabetes prevalent within the millennial generation compared to when Gen Xers were in their 30s.
#Health starts declining at age 27 – are you ready? Learn more: https://t.co/FI4BZBokC5 pic.twitter.com/mvKR2azgat
— Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (@BCBSAssociation) April 24, 2019
The difference in health status between millennials and Gen X during their 30s can be explained a few different ways. As Time pointed out, many millennials find it difficult to pay for healthcare, and therefore may not be able to professionally address their health issues.
This is it, guys. There is literally nothing to look forward to in our sad millennial lives. pic.twitter.com/E941HsF5mv
— alexa? (@itsnotalexaaa) April 26, 2019
And the recorded rise in depression could be explained by the fact that millennials are more open to talking about their mental health than older generations were at the time. So, that uptick *may be* a positive one.
Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot we can really do at this point to shift the results. We, as millennials, can simply focus on trying to maintain our health the best we can and try to keep this information away from Baby Boomers.
This Millennial generation will be the death of our country, wait and see
— Naybob (@nathan_colburn) April 26, 2019
You know they’ll just rub it in our faces! They will!
Don't threaten me, bitch
— I am cisgender Elon Musk. Uh, parody (@RobJRII) April 25, 2019
Cardiovascular, behavioral, and endocrine conditions each jumped in prevalence from Gen X to millennials. So we should take extra care to stay heart-healthy, mind our mental health, and figure out our hormonal issues.
Then again… maybe this is just the way we were meant to be.
millennial culture is having a mental illness and digestive issues
— sean (@SeanDorney) April 26, 2019
In all seriousness, if you have been blessed with insurance, set yourself up with a primary care doctor. Like, now.
Researchers find that "primary care is by far the most significant variable related to better health status,” correlating with lower mortality, fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer, and a host of other beneficial outcomes https://t.co/Ir8srmxRLm
— AMA Media (@ama_media) April 26, 2019
Having a doctor who knows your health history and can set you up with necessary referrals, prescriptions, and just basic physicals is key to staying as healthy as possible. Make your primary care doctor your new BFF.
Because if you’re not at your peak health, how the heck are you supposed to think of #dank #millennialmemes like this? Think about it.
Millennial apartment starter pack pic.twitter.com/OpLUPKThte
— Sea of sin (@Amonio_) April 26, 2019
Millennial culture is actually just about making fun of millennial culture. You need to be at full mental capacity to do that.
This is the most millennial shit I’ve ever seen in my life. pic.twitter.com/YtEy7VUgwd
— BC - [ ヤマツカミ] (@JmBc95) April 24, 2019
Right? Yeah… Yeah, you totally do.
Getting angry at your Twitter friends for shitposting garbage in your timeline is the millennial version of get off my lawn
— FakeNewsHeadlines (@FakeNew30109943) April 25, 2019
And we need our health to continue to fight in the Great Silver Wave War. We need all the millennial manpower we can get!
A side note: We’re really not that anti-Baby Boomer, btw. Mom, Dad, we still love you. It’s just that…
However, that’s a fight for a different day. Today, we’re focused on maintaining our health. Check out the full Blue Cross Blue Shield report to get all the details.
The health of #millennials is more precarious than it was for prior generations at the same age. Through a sustained philanthropic focus at a local free clinic, @BCBSM is committed to helping. https://t.co/gvIPaQE9wa pic.twitter.com/YicPiTnYKB
— Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (@BCBSAssociation) April 26, 2019
Go to the doctor and take care of yourself, millennials.
