Millennials May 'Look Healthy' But Mortality Trends Paint A Sad Picture

The millennial generation serves as a constant reminder that there is more to health than what meets the eye. In a chat with Shaw Local, Dr. Abraham Thomas, a board-certified internal medicine doctor at Silver Cross Hospital, explained that, in his experience, millennials "always look healthy" despite having numerous hidden health risks. Sadly, research supports this statement.

A 2025 study in JAMA Network Open analyzing around 3.4 million deaths occurring between 1999 and 2023 found that early adult mortality had risen by 70% by 2023. Researchers concluded that the number-one reason for early mortality among millennials and other younger generations was drug poisoning or overdoses. Notably, a 2019 report by the Trust for America's Health and the Well Being Trust that analyzed data from 1999 and 2017 found that the rate of opioid overdose deaths among millennials had risen by over 500%. 

Meanwhile, the 2025 study found that a significant number of millennial deaths were due to transport-related incidents, alcohol, homicides, and natural causes. The 2019 report also found that alcohol-induced deaths in millennials had increased by 69% between 2007 and 2017. John Auerbach, the president and CEO of Trust for America's Health, drew attention to some reasons for the rising number of millennial deaths due to alcohol and drugs, saying, "They are young parents, many have burdensome levels of educational debt, they are more than one-third of today's workforce and comprise the largest proportion of Americans serving in the military. Unfortunately, they also comprise the largest portion of people in prison."

The aforementioned 2025 study found that 9.4% of the excess in millennial deaths could be attributed to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Chatting with Boston University, Andrew Stokes, an associate professor of global health, said that the rising number of diseases among young adults is alarming, explaining, "Usually, it takes a lifetime to manifest cardiovascular disease and related mortality." Moreover, he believed that the overall trends showing an increasing number of young adult deaths are a cause for concern since the generation is likely to face more health problems as they age.

According to the BBC, health experts have suggested that millennials are on track to become the most obese generation in history. Population data has indicated that at least seven out of every 10 millennials born in the U.K. will be obese as they enter their middle ages. Additionally, research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session showed that between 2000 and 2016, the number of younger people having heart attacks steadily grew 2% each year. Eventually, stats showed that one in five people who had heart attacks was under the age of 40.

Experts have repeatedly said that one of the best things you can do to decrease your risk of heart disease is to reduce obesity. It's also worth noting that, per research, millennials are aging faster than boomers; the younger generation is also considered the most stressed. With all of this in mind, it's clear that a great emphasis needs to be put on bringing the silent health struggles of millennials to light.