UAE: Gen Z diet and worry about weight more than previous generations, say experts

If having to spend their early 20s fighting a global pandemic wasn’t enough for Gen Z, they are now worrying about their weight more than any generation before them.

Individuals born between 1997 to 2012, or the Gen Z, are facing increased dangers associated with obesity, Cynthia Bou Khalil, nutritional consultant and clinical excellence manager at Allurion has said.

According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, and in 2016 alone more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight, of which 650 million were obese.

The study also said it was demonstrated that the younger generation is likely to be more exposed to obesity throughout their lives than previous generations, thus putting them at an increased risk for chronic health conditions such as coronary heart disease and type two diabetes mellitus.

Absence of effective and timely intervention, obesity will have severe public health consequences in decades to come, stated the study.

‘Concern towards weight loss is high in Gen Z population’

“Furthermore, over the last decade, a rapid increase in time spent in sedentary activities by people in their early childhood and an overall downward trend in energy-expending behaviour has been observed,” said Cynthia.

“This goes to show that more on-screen time and a ‘cohort effect’ towards lower physical activity are one of the leading causes of increased weight among Gen Z,” she added.

As a result, they are beginning to understand the consequences of obesity on their overall well-being in adulthood and are seeking to lose the weight.