From Boom to Zoom: A Generational Journey Through Health, Habits and Healing

Ever caught yourself refusing a glass of wine and thought, “I’m becoming my niece”? Or googled supplements your grandparents wouldn’t recognise, while quietly wondering what they made of margarine when it first hit the shelves?

The way we eat, move, drink, feel, and parent doesn’t appear out of thin air. It’s passed down and reacted to through the generations. The stories of our bodies and minds are woven from wars, welfare reforms, wellbeing trends, and women’s rights.

In this post, we'll take a gentle stroll through five generations, from the stoicism of the Silent Generation to the emotional fluency of Gen Z, exploring the eras they’ve lived through, the health fads they followed, and the impact those choices have had on life expectancy and wellbeing.

The Silent Generation (born 1928–1945): Keeping Calm and Carrying On

The Silent Generation came into the world between the two World Wars and came of age just as Britain was picking up the pieces. They lived through the 1940s to 1970s with ration books, coal fires, and the Queen’s speech on a flickering black-and-white television. They were taught to keep their heads down, work hard, and not make a fuss.

Notable changes: It’s hard to believe that homosexuality was still criminalised in the UK until 1967. For much of this generation, simply being yourself could have landed you in prison.

Attitudes and upbringing: Emotions were private matters, not something you shared around the dinner table. Discipline was firm and unquestioned, children were raised to respect authority, and often feared it. Fathers were typically the providers, while mothers managed the home.

Alcohol, drugs and coping: Drinking was usually confined to the pub or the social club, but there were fewer public conversations about overuse or dependency. Feelings were often managed with a stiff upper lip and a nightcap.

Health fads of the time: This generation didn’t grow up with fads as we know them, but many remember being told cod liver oil was a cure for everything. Sunlamps, cigarettes and tinned fruit salad in syrup were considered perfectly acceptable ingredients for a healthy lifestyle, but meat and two veg were the standard dinner plate.

Media exposure: Media was carefully curated. Radio, newspapers, and later, the BBC provided a trusted but limited lens on the world. The tone was formal, factual, and emotionally reserved. There was no space for vulnerability, and certainly no dialogue around mental health or wellbeing.

Life expectancy and wellbeing: In the early 1930s, average life expectancy at birth in the UK was around 60 years but this figure was heavily influenced by high infant mortality rates. Those who made it through childhood often lived well into their 70s or beyond, particularly if they avoided major illness or injury. Advances in antibiotics, vaccines, and the NHS (founded in 1948) dramatically changed their later health outcomes. However, emotional wellbeing was rarely prioritised and trauma from war and loss often remained unspoken.

The Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964): Peace, Prosperity, and a Pint

As the post-war dust settled, a new wave of optimism swept through Britain. Baby Boomers grew up through the 1950s to 1980s, with central heating, the Beatles, and Margaret Thatcher. Economic growth gave many access to university, home ownership, and foreign holidays, if not all at once.

Notable changes: The contraceptive pill was introduced in 1961 (FDA approved in 1960) for married women on the NHS, eventually transforming women’s freedom and family planning in ways their mothers could only dream of and unleashing the sexual revolution Boomers became famous for. It wasn’t until 1975 that women in the UK could open a bank account in their own name without needing a husband or father to co-sign. So for many Boomer women, financial independence only became a legal right in adulthood.

Attitudes and upbringing: This generation experienced stricter parenting but often with more financial stability than their predecessors. They carried forward the stoicism of their parents, while also challenging the rules (e.g. protests, miniskirts, and punk).

Alcohol, drugs and coping: Pubs were central to social life. Alcohol consumption was high, and binge drinking became culturally normal. Drinking was rarely questioned, even when problems emerged. Alongside alcohol, the late 1960s and 70s also saw increased recreational use of cannabis and psychedelics among young Boomers, particularly within counterculture movements. Inspired by the likes of the Beatles’ spiritual journey to India and the Woodstock era, many experimented with drugs as a form of rebellion, exploration, or protest. This was not widespread across all Boomers, but it shaped a generation’s relationship with authority, consciousness, and lifestyle alternatives.

Health fads of the time: From grapefruit diets to vibrating belt machines, Boomers were early adopters of convenience-led health. Low-fat everything hit supermarket shelves in the 1980s, often replacing fat with sugar.

Media exposure: Television entered the mainstream during their youth, shifting how families consumed news and entertainment. For the first time, wars, politics, and public figures were beamed into living rooms. Advertising shaped consumer culture - smoking, drinking, and diet products were glamourised without question.

Life expectancy and wellbeing: Boomers have benefitted from improvements in healthcare and living conditions, with current average life expectancy at birth around 77 for men and 81 for women. However, they are more likely than previous generations to experience chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, perhaps due to richer diets, smoking, and reduced physical activity as technology advanced.

Generation X (born 1965–1980): The Independent In-Betweeners

Generation X were raised through the 1970s to early 2000s. They experienced the birth of the digital age, the rise of divorce rates, and were often left to their own devices.

Notable changes: Smoking was still allowed in pubs, restaurants, and even planes until the mid-2000s. Gen X spent much of their youth in smoke-filled spaces that are now unthinkable in modern health-conscious environments. Gen X children in the 1980s might recall lying across the back seats on long journeys or sliding around without much restraint, because seatbelts in the rear weren't yet required. It only became compulsory in January 1983 for adults in the front seats of cars that were already fitted with seatbelts and in 1989 for children under 14 to wear seatbelts in the back if they were available.

Attitudes and upbringing: Many were “latchkey kids,” coming home to an empty house after school. They were raised to be resourceful and self-sufficient, but often missed out on emotional support. Feelings weren’t ignored entirely but they weren’t exactly encouraged, either. 

Alcohol, drugs and coping: Drinking shifted from social to solitary. A glass of wine after work became a coping mechanism rather than a treat. Alcohol remained embedded in adult life, with less overt bingeing than Boomers, but more regular use. The late 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of rave culture in the UK, with large underground parties and music festivals fuelling a shift in how people socialised... and self-medicated. Recreational drug use, particularly ecstasy (MDMA), became common in these spaces, often replacing alcohol as the substance of choice. While many describe the scene as euphoric and freeing, others experienced long-term mental health consequences linked to unregulated use.

Health fads of the time: This generation tried every diet from Atkins to cabbage soup. Aerobics tapes, SlimFast, and home gym equipment were all the rage. By the late 1990s, ‘detoxing’ became a buzzword. Gen X saw veganism emerge as a countercultural diet in the late 1980s/90s but it remained niche, often associated with activism or punk subculture.

Media exposure: Gen X grew up with mass media and were the first to witness the 24-hour news cycle. MTV, tabloid journalism, and later, the internet shaped a generation that became both highly sceptical and deeply media-literate. Body image pressure from magazines and ‘thinspiration’ content in the 90s left scars for many.

Life expectancy and wellbeing: Gen Xers are expected to live into their late 70s and early 80s, though working life is often cut short by stress, burnout, and long-term health conditions. Despite growing up in a more prosperous era, many report feeling stretched thin, caring for ageing parents while supporting teenage children.

Millennials (born 1981–1996): The Conscious Strivers

Millennials have lived through some of the most significant changes in modern life, from dial-up internet to AI chatbots. Coming of age in the 2000s and 2010s, they’ve seen recessions, climate anxiety, and more lifestyle blogs than anyone needs.

Notable changes: Smartphones only became mainstream around 2007. Millennials are the last generation to remember a life without constant notifications.

Attitudes and upbringing: Raised by a mix of Gen X and Boomer parents, many millennials experienced more permissive parenting and were encouraged to follow their dreams. Mental health became a topic for discussion, though stigma still lingered.

Alcohol, drugs and coping: While many drank heavily at university, millennials are now among the most sober-curious generations. Alcohol-free alternatives, mindful drinking, and “dry January” are all commonplace. In contrast to the open experimentation of their parents, millennials came of age during a period where prescription drugs were on the rise. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw increasing access to antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and ADHD treatments. For some, this represented progress, an acknowledgement of mental health struggles. For others, it felt like medicalising everyday stress. Either way, it shaped how millennials view health: a mix of holistic wellness and pharmaceutical support.

Health fads of the time: From green juices to intermittent fasting, HIIT workouts to avocado everything—wellness became a lifestyle. Social media fed both inspiration and insecurity. This generation witnessed the mainstreaming of plant-based eating. While vegetarianism had long existed, veganism gained major traction in the 2010s, driven by documentaries (What the Health, Cowspiracy), social media influencers, and growing concern about animal welfare, health, and climate change. Supermarkets expanded their plant-based ranges, and more recently dining out as a vegan has become socially viable rather than fringe.

Media exposure: Millennials straddled analogue and digital worlds, experiencing both MySpace and mindfulness apps. Social media exploded in their formative years, fuelling comparison, FOMO, and the pressure to present a curated life. At the same time, it gave rise to open conversations about therapy, activism, and identity.

Life expectancy and wellbeing: Millennials born in the late 1980s are projected to live into their mid to late 80s, though mental health concerns, digestive disorders, and burnout are more common than in previous generations. They are, however, more likely to seek help, embrace therapy, and focus on work-life balance.

Generation Z (born 1997–2012): The Healing Generation

Gen Z are coming of age in a world where everything is instant, from groceries to gratification. They’ve lived through climate strikes, a global pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis, all before hitting 30.

Notable changes: TikTok launched in 2016 and now influences everything from fashion to mental health advice. For Gen Z, viral wellbeing trends can shape habits overnight.

Attitudes and upbringing: Many were raised by millennial parents who favoured empathy, emotional intelligence, and open conversations. They are the first generation to be truly comfortable talking about trauma, boundaries, and self-care from a young age.

Alcohol, drugs and coping: Drinking has fallen sharply, with around 30% of Gen Z reporting no alcohol use at all. Instead, they opt for gym sessions, wellness cafés, and early nights. While Gen Z are drinking less, some trends suggest a quiet rise in the use of cannabis (particularly in places where it's been legalised or decriminalised) and micro-dosing psychedelics like psilocybin among young professionals, often marketed as tools for productivity or creativity. At the same time, the wellness narrative has created a divide between those seeking enhancement through supplements and clean eating, and others turning to quiet, often solitary forms of escapism.

Health fads of the time: Cold plunges, gut health, wellness influencers, and personal tracking apps are just part of everyday life. But so too are online burnout and comparison fatigue. For Gen Z, veganism isn’t only a trend, it’s often a value. Many view food choices as a form of activism, aligning diet with environmental and ethical beliefs. School cafeterias began offering plant-based options, and ‘flexitarianism’ became a common middle ground. TikTok trends introduced vegan recipes as aesthetic experiences as much as nutritional ones.

Media exposure: Gen Z have never known life without the internet. Their media is visual, fast, and algorithmically tailored. While this creates platforms for self-expression and activism, it also contributes to overstimulation, anxiety, and unrealistic expectations. Trends shift faster than values can form, creating both identity exploration and instability.

Life expectancy and wellbeing: With current predictions placing Gen Z’s lifespan in their late 80s to early 90s, they have the potential to enjoy longer, healthier lives... If they can navigate the stress of being constantly connected.

A Thread Through Time

Each generation absorbed the world around them and tried to make it better, or at least survive it. The Silents endured, the Boomers rebelled, Gen X adapted, Millennials reflected, and Gen Z is rebuilding.

Healing, as it turns out, is intergenerational too.

So what's to come for the next generation?

Generation Alpha:

• They are the first generation entirely born in the 21st century.

• They’re growing up with AI, smart speakers, and screens from birth.

• Predicted to be the most formally educated, tech-savvy, and potentially the most health-aware—but also the most exposed to digital overstimulation and climate anxiety.

• Many are children of Millennials and younger Gen X parents.

So, as we look ahead, we might ask—what kind of world are we handing to Generation Alpha? Will they inherit our health-conscious habits, or our hyper-connected stress? Or will they, once again, rewrite the rules?

What do YOU think? Leave a comment below with your thoughts - does this change your perspective on your grandparents' lives? Or what you think might be to come for the Alphas?