What measures should our society prepare for the increasing chronic diseases among the MZ generation?

Young Generation's Health Crisis

In modern society globally, including South Korea, chronic diseases are no longer issues confined to middle-aged or elderly populations. Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and eye diseases are rapidly spreading among the younger generation in their 20s to 40s, and the speed and scale of this phenomenon exacerbate its seriousness. This raises an essential question: 'Why are modern individuals falling ill at earlier ages and more easily?' The importance of this question lies in the fact that the health problems currently faced by the younger generation stem from a complex interplay of multiple factors rather than a single cause.

Silence of the Body in the Digital Everyday

The normalization of digital devices is at the center of health changes in the younger generation. Through smartphones and various screens, we consume and gaze at thousands of pieces of information each day. This information overload can go beyond mere eye strain blue light inhibits melatonin production, which can consequently deteriorate sleep quality. Lack of sleep leads to hormonal imbalance and reduced immunity, disrupting metabolic functions and promoting chronic inflammation. As a result, conditions such as cataracts, optic nerve abnormalities, and chronic headaches are increasingly occurring in younger individuals. We cannot overlook the negative impacts of these digital technologies on the body, aside from their convenience.

Unbalanced life, collapsed foundation

Another factor contributing to the health crisis among the younger generation is the structural imbalance in society. In an environment of unstable employment, excessive workloads, and constant competition, the resource of 'time' has become incredibly precious. While healthy eating habits and regular exercise may be ideal, they have become difficult choices in reality. The boundaries between work and rest have become blurred, and psychological anxiety and depression significantly impact individuals. Health issues are often easily shifted onto individuals as their responsibility. However, in the current reality, 'health management' has transformed from a matter of will to a matter of circumstances. Many young people come to view health not as something they have 'given up' but as a 'luxury that is hard to attain.'

Beyond the individual, a responsibility of the entire society

To address complex and structural health crises, individual efforts alone are insufficient. A comprehensive response system that involves both society and the state is now necessary. Health should not be understood merely as the absence of disease, but should be recognized as a core asset that constitutes quality of life. To achieve this, various multilayered approaches are required, and from a policy perspective, it is urgent to expand preventive health policies and strengthen health examination systems for the younger generation. Institutional mechanisms to alleviate health inequality must be established, and addressing healthcare accessibility and information gaps is also essential.

Health must now become a culture.

Health should no longer be perceived as a 'burdensome choice' in our daily lives, but rather as a fundamental way of living that enhances the beauty of our lives. Healthy eating, adequate sleep, and consistent exercise need to create an atmosphere where they are not merely 'things to do' but 'things to want to do.' Ultimately, health should not be just an individual achievement, but a cultural asset of the community. The increase in chronic diseases among younger generations is not simply a medical phenomenon. It is a sign of a structural fatigue that we are struggling to cope with, and a warning for future generations. We are at a point where we must believe that 'health' is a social commitment rather than an individual choice.