By Editorial Team 
The youngest generation of Pakistan is growing up under a strange kind of pressure
Diseases that was once shown in middle ages are shown up in the young people that belong to classrooms and Universities hostels and alongside with that there is an other habit of this generation – diagnosing themselves using a chatbot before ever seeing a doctor. Gen Z health crisis in Pakistan is becoming a serious problem. All the infectious disease that should gone are now sits alongside serious disorders. The real question is weather the country healthcare system is weak and if not, than may be new generation trusts chatbot more than doctors.
The sugar problem in Pakistan is no longer a “future” problem
Diabetes number in Pakistan is already highest in the world. According to the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, Pakistan ranks third globally for the adult type 2 diabetes cases, trailing China and India only. That static describes u that the drivers behind this like sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates, poor sleep are habits that is the main reason behind Gen z and health crisis in Pakistan and it is not only related to Gen Z it is for all the age groups .
Weight gain, insulin resistance to full-blown diabetes is well documented. Research on obesity’s relationship with diabetes in Pakistan found that nearly every third diabetic patient in the sample was also obese, that shows how closely the two conditions travel together. On the other hand study on childhood obesity found that more than a quarter of children that have been surveyed were from group obese or overweight.
Gen Z and health crisis in Pakistan is also due to anxiety, body image and academic pressure. A qualitative study on people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Pakistan described the emotional burden of the diagnosis and also the cultural weight attached to it like stress, shame and coping with problems all are major themes. And if we talk about younger people who have yet not been diagnosed these same ingredients will gonna appear in them as well.
Self medication and the Rise of AI chatbots
When a headache becomes a google search rather than a doctors visit – This is what Gen Z does instead of visiting a doctor. A detailed Associated Press of Pakistan report also carried by The Nation describes that Gen Z is a generation that is increasingly treating AI chatbots, instagram and tiktok along with google as a first line of medical advice. A hospital administrator quoted in a report that the easy access to medication is driving the shift away from proper diagnosis.
The same report cites a case in Rawalpindi were a young lady combined the weight lose drops with antibiotics on her own and than she ended up hospitalized with a liver condition. So the friendly reminder is that any drug combination that is unsupervised will lead towards the damage they’re meant to avoid.
Dermatologist also quoted that the skincare products that people bought just because of social reviews or based on influencer’s suggestions can lead towards serious skin problems because not all the products suits all the people. Pharmacists also quoted that customers arrive already certain of what medicine they need just based on an AI chatbot advice – all these are the main reason behind the Gen Z and health crisis in Pakistan increasing rapidly.
Sedentary Gen Z
Smartphones, games, streaming online delivery apps for food, shopping and many more completely changed how much a Gen Z moves in a day. And the point here is not that “technology is the enemy” this about that this generation is addicted to convenience. Walking to the campus is shifted toward online classes, Cooking is replaced by food delivery and the entertainment that once was going on vocations or family gathering is now replaced by screens. The fix of this problem is not about leaving with out all these things but to set a routine that no longer need technology for each and everything.
