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Millennials and Gen Zs prioritize health, purpose, financial independence, but health and wellness gaps persist

Younger Filipinos are placing greater emphasis on healthspan, purpose, and financial independence. However, the study also revealed that while 83% of young respondents have good knowledge about health and wellness, only 76% say they are taking sufficient action to consistently practice healthy habits.

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11 months ago

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While millennials and Gen Zs in the Philippines are reshaping what it means to live well and live long, significant gaps between awareness and action jeopardize their health, wellness, and longevity aspirations, a new study by Manulife Philippines has found.

According to “#FYP: Future-proofing Young Pinoys: Examining Health and Longevity Perspectives, Sentiments, and Aspirations of Millennials and Gen Zs,” which was conducted among 500 respondents across the Philippines, younger Filipinos are placing greater emphasis on healthspan, purpose, and financial independence. However, the study also revealed that while 83% of young respondents have good knowledge about health and wellness, only 76% say they are taking sufficient action to consistently practice healthy habits.

“With a median age of 26.1, the Philippines has one of the youngest populations in Asia. Our latest study highlights the need to support younger generations in translating their health, wellness, and longevity aspirations into meaningful action. We found that millennials and Gen Zs are motivated to live healthier lives, but barriers like stress, excessive screen time, and sleep deprivation, among many others are holding them back from achieving this goal,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

Motivated to be healthy, but stress gets in the way; Millennial women among the most affected

The study found that millennials and Gen Zs are not short of motivation to pursue their health and wellness goals. While 64% said they are pursuing health to avoid getting sick, and 44% said they want to minimize potential medical expenses, many are equally driven by their personal well-being and self-image about feeling and looking good: 44% said they want to look good or fit, and 43% said they want to look youthful.

Younger Filipinos, especially women, are also putting more focus on healthspan, or the number of the years we live healthily, over lifespan. According to the survey, 60% of female respondents prefer to prolong their healthspans, while 53% of males prefer to prolong their lifespans.

Filipino millennials and Gen Zs face notable health and wellness gaps, from monitoring to their actual wellness behaviors:

  • Young Filipinos show significant gaps in health monitoring (awareness vs what they actually monitor), particularly in mobility (24%), nutrition (23%), and cholesterol levels (20%). Gender differences are evident, with young women struggling more with nutritional monitoring (27%) and young men facing greater challenges in mobility monitoring (28%).
  • Many young Filipinos find it difficult to consistently maintain healthy sleeping habits (20%), achieve work-life balance (19%), and follow a balanced diet (15%). Women report a larger gap in achieving work-life balance at 22%, compared to the 15% gap among men.
  • Stress is the most prominent barrier to wellness, affecting 64% of respondents. Millennials report higher stress levels than Gen Zs (69% vs. 58%), and women are more affected than men (73% vs. 55%). Notably, 76% of millennial women say stress prevents them from pursuing their desired wellbeing—the highest among all generational and gender groups.
  • Modern lifestyle habits further compound these issues, with excessive screen time impacting 48% and sleep deprivation affecting 45% of young Filipinos. Trends such as “bedrotting” and “doomscrolling” reflect how contemporary behaviors are undermining their wellness goals.

“We’re seeing that for young Filipinos, intent alone isn’t sufficient. While many are motivated to pursue healthier lives, they’re facing a complex mix of stressors and lifestyle gaps, which make it difficult to follow through. These habits quietly derail their ability to prioritize wellness. That’s why the next step is to find ways to embed wellness into their daily routine. By offering health and wellness-focused programs and collaborations with likeminded partners, we are helping them bridge the gap between intention and action, turning wellness goals into sustainable, everyday behaviors supporting their long-term health and longevity aspirations,” added Hora.

Younger Filipinos view age positively and prioritize attaining purpose and living independently than being illness-free

According to the study, 96% of millennials and Gen Zs surveyed believe aging is a natural process that should be embraced with positivity, while 91% of the respondents believe that living a meaningful life is more important than living a long one. The study revealed a striking perspective on aging priorities, with 83% of respondents believing that living independently and being able to do things that matter most to them is more important than being illness-free.

Millennials surveyed focus more on physical health and family relationships as they age. Gen Zs, on the other hand, lean toward self-discovery, purpose, and making an impact. Only 13% of both generations consider maximizing lifespan as a top priority, with men showing slightly higher interest (17%) compared to women (8%).

“The findings reveal that young Filipinos see aging not as decline, but as a chance to live with purpose and independence,” Hora said. “It is therefore crucial that we create opportunities and support systems for them to live better at every stage of their lives. This means investing in holistic wellness programs, accessible financial health education, as well as tools that address both physical and mental needs, tailored especially for younger generations navigating various stressors of the modern world.”

“As one of the country’s longest-serving insurers, Manulife Philippines is deeply committed to supporting younger generations of Filipinos in their journey toward financial independence and longevity. Through our innovative insurance and investment solutions, and our nationwide network of over 10,000 professional financial advisors, we aim to empower millennials and Gen Zs to live fuller, healthier lives with purpose and confidence as they age,” said Hora.

Financial independence: Younger Filipinos’ ultimate longevity concern

When it comes to living a longer life but also “adding life to years,” financial security tops the list of concerns for both generations. Among the respondents, 74% believe that longevity is a blessing only if they have sufficient financial resources, with running out of money being their greatest worry (61%). Millennials and Gen Zs agree that mental health is a top longevity concern (36% and 47%, respectively). Millennials surveyed are more concerned about keeping ties with children (37%), while Gen Zs are more concerned about living their desired lifestyle (39%). 

Gaining financial independence is also a top longevity priority for young Filipinos (52%), followed by family relationships (36%) and physical health (33%). Women, however, prioritize financial independence significantly more than men (60% vs. 44%). This gender gap reflects broader structural realities women face in the Philippines. Despite having longer life expectancies (69.9 vs 63.4), women have lower labor force participation (52.9% vs 76.3%) and are prone to career interruptions due to family and caregiving responsibilities. These factors make financial independence especially urgent for women, who must plan for longer retirement years with potentially fewer financial opportunities.

Financial planning remains one of the many challenges the youth face. Gen Zs surveyed estimate needing PHP22.3 million to achieve financial independence upon retirement, while millennials estimate PHP18.4 million. Yet only 20% of respondents have very high confidence in achieving these goals. Despite the challenges, young Filipinos take proactive steps. Among those who prioritize financial independence, 65% save part of their income, 45% purchase insurance, and 43% actively broaden their financial knowledge. However, 68% admit that sustaining investments remains difficult.

“It’s encouraging to see today’s younger generations starting to take more proactive steps toward financial planning. We’re seeing a shift in mindset, where millennials and Gen Zs are actively saving, purchasing insurance, and expanding their financial literacy. These are promising signs,” said Aira Gaspar, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Investments Philippines.

“The key now is to help them bridge the gap between intention and sustained action, through accessible, flexible investment strategies that evolve with their life stages, financial capabilities, and aspirations. By enabling them with the right tools and guidance, we can help turn financial independence into a tangible, achievable reality for our younger customers in the Philippines,” added Gaspar.

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The look and feel of your neighborhood may affect your sleep

Those living in neighborhoods rated as having a stronger sense of safety tended to sleep longer, and that this rating appeared to be shaped by the streetscape.

Published

3 weeks ago

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August 25, 2026

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Your neighborhood’s “streetscape”—the physical environment of your street—is something that you have probably never consciously thought about, despite seeing it every day. But what if the streetscape was affecting you on a subconscious level and disrupting your sleep? 

This intriguing question is posed by the findings of a study led by Professor Daisuke Matsushita of the Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology at Osaka Metropolitan University. The research team used AI to analyze more than 200,000 Google Street View images to identify visual neighborhood characteristics. They then linked these characteristics to the self-reported sleep of 1,089 working adults living on the lower floors of apartments in Tokyo, who were most likely to be affected by the streetscape.  

They found that those living in neighborhoods rated as having a stronger sense of safety tended to sleep longer, and that this rating appeared to be shaped by the streetscape. Generally, people slept longer in areas with lots of greenery, such as leafy trees, on the street. Similarly, high “enclosure”—meaning many tall vertical buildings and few wide-open spaces—was also associated with longer sleep and fewer insomnia symptoms. 

However, the study also made a surprising finding. The researchers found that highly walkable streetscapes, such as those with more sidewalks and traffic signs, were associated with a lowered sense of safety and shortened sleep duration.  

This suggests that walkability does not always represent a reassuring environment. Instead, a possible explanation is that streets with extensive pedestrian infrastructure are often busier, more crowded, and used by more strangers, which may be perceived as less safe or less relaxing than quieter residential streets.  

“This study demonstrates the potential for evaluating streetscape characteristics across large geographic areas in a cost-effective manner,” Dr. Matsushita said. “Based on the technique used in this study, cities could potentially measure perceived safety, beauty, liveliness, and enclosure as well as pollution and noise.”  

“We hope that opening up this new perspective creates further possibilities for designing healthier neighborhoods,” he concludes.  

The findings were published in Building and Environment.

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Workout or nap? Either can help your sleepless brain, study finds

People who either completed 20 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise or took a 90-minute nap performed about 22 per cent better on memory tests after 30 hours without sleep than those who did neither.

Published

3 weeks ago

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August 25, 2026

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A short workout or a nap can help protect memory after a sleepless night, a McGill University-led study has found.

Researchers found people who either completed 20 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise or took a 90-minute nap performed about 22 per cent better on memory tests after 30 hours without sleep than those who did neither. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), point to practical ways to counter the effects of sleep deprivation.

“Sleep loss affects nearly every aspect of how we think and function, but many people can’t simply stop what they’re doing and get more sleep,” said senior author Marc Roig, Professor in McGill’s School of Physical and Occupational Therapy. “Our findings show that even a brief bout of exercise may help preserve one of our most important cognitive abilities.”

The study involved 54 healthy young adults who stayed awake for 30 consecutive hours under lab supervision. Participants were then assigned to one of three groups: a 20-minute cycling session, a 90-minute nap or a control condition. Three days later, researchers tested their memory for images they had viewed immediately after the intervention. Those who exercised or napped remembered significantly more images than participants who did neither.

Same result, different pathways

While the memory benefits were nearly identical, brain recordings revealed that exercise and napping helped in different ways.

Napping appeared to help the brain recharge, making it easier to take in and remember new information. Exercise, by contrast, helped the brain use its remaining resources more efficiently, without making participants feel more tired.

The findings could eventually inform fatigue-management strategies in workplaces where sleep loss is common and mistakes can have serious consequences, such as health care, transportation and emergency response.

“A nap isn’t always possible in the middle of a shift,” said first author Madhura Lotlikar, a doctoral candidate in McGill’s Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. “Exercise is accessible, inexpensive and easy to implement. That makes it a promising tool to help people stay cognitively sharp when sleep is limited.”

The researchers emphasize that exercise cannot replace sleep, but it may help people function better when getting enough rest isn’t possible.

About the study

“Protecting episodic memory after sleep loss: Similar benefits of exercise and naps via distinct neural contributions” by Madhura Lotlikar and Marc Roig et al., was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

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Study links coffee consumption to metabolic health and sex hormones

Despite having a similar body mass index (BMI), individuals with higher coffee consumption had lower total and visceral fat and greater skeletal muscle mass than those who consumed less coffee.

Published

4 weeks ago

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August 17, 2026

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Coffee is one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages, and previous research has linked its consumption to a lower risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the biological mechanisms behind these benefits remain unclear. A new Finnish study links habitual coffee consumption to healthier body composition and metabolic markers, while revealing distinct associations with sex hormones in men and women.

The study, conducted at the University of Oulu, analysed data from 2,264 participants aged 46 in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. Researchers examined how habitual coffee consumption was associated with circulating metabolites, cardiometabolic risk markers and sex hormones.

Despite having a similar body mass index (BMI), individuals with higher coffee consumption had lower total and visceral fat and greater skeletal muscle mass than those who consumed less coffee.

In both men and women, higher coffee consumption was correlated with lower circulating levels of branched-chain amino acids, biomarkers that have previously been linked to insulin resistance and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes when chronically elevated.

The strongest sex-specific associations were observed in men. Higher coffee consumption was linked to a more favourable glucose–insulin profile, higher concentrations of total and bioavailable testosterone, and increased levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). At the same time, free testosterone and the free androgen index were modestly lower. In women, hormonal associations were more limited and were primarily characterised by higher SHBG and lower measures of free androgens.

“Coffee is consumed by millions of people every day, yet we still know surprisingly little about how it relates to our metabolism and hormones. What stood out in our findings was a distinct hormonal signature that didn’t disappear even after we took into account BMI and lifestyle factors, with several of these associations differing between men and women,” says Luca Verroest, lead author of the study and Doctoral Researcher at the University of Oulu.

The results suggest that hormonal pathways may partly explain the relationship between coffee consumption and metabolic health. However, as this was an observational study, the findings demonstrate associations rather than cause-and-effect relationships.

The study is particularly relevant in Finland, one of the world’s highest coffee-consuming countries, where annual consumption averages around 11.8 kilograms per person.

The researchers say the findings provide a foundation for future studies aimed at determining whether coffee itself drives these biological changes and identifying the compounds responsible. These questions are currently being investigated in animal models, with the long-term goal of progressing to human intervention studies. Further research will be needed before the findings could inform dietary recommendations.

The study, Associations of habitual coffee intake with testosterone and cardiometabolic markers: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study, has been published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

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