Lately, I can’t help but notice how much fitness has exploded for Gen Z.

They're running, lifting, cycling, stretching—sometimes harder and more consistently than any generation before them.

At first glance, it feels like a huge win for health and wellness.
But as a parent of three Gen Z kids, I can’t help but wonder:

Is it all as healthy as it looks?
Or is something deeper going on?

Because here’s the thing no one really talks about:
There’s a fine line between healthy habits and hidden struggles.

Fitness: The Good, the Bad, and the (Sometimes) Ugly

First, let’s give credit where it’s due.
Movement is powerful. Movement is medicine.
Exercise builds resilience, boosts mental health, and creates community—all things this generation needs more than ever.

But according to a recent Men's Health study, there’s another side to this fitness boom:
A growing number of young people are overtraining, chasing an impossible ideal, and tying their self-worth to performance and appearance.

And it’s not just a surface-level thing.

Research shows that 75% of people who struggle with exercise addiction also battle deeper mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or OCD.

It’s easy to look like you’ve "got it together" when you’re clocking two workouts a day—but sometimes, it’s just another way of trying to outrun what’s hurting inside.

When Fitness Becomes a Mask

Here’s what really worries me:

Fitness is supposed to make you feel stronger.
But for some, it’s becoming another place where they feel “never enough.”

It shows up quietly:

Pushing through injuries because rest feels like failure.
Feeling guilty for missing a workout.
Choosing training over time with friends, family, or real rest.
Obsessing over supplements, scales, or how “perfect” their body looks on a screen.

And listen—I get it.
I’ve lived inside hustle culture too.
That voice that says, "Just push harder. Just do more."
It can be so loud, especially for a generation that's grown up with social media in their back pocket.

But chasing a moving finish line doesn’t build self-worth.
It just leaves you tired, anxious, and disconnected from your own body—the opposite of what fitness is supposed to do.

Where This Hits Home For Me

This isn’t just something I’m observing from the outside—it’s personal.

Over the years, I’ve walked almost every path you can walk with your body.

I’ve battled obesity.
I’ve been too thin and too unhealthy.
I’ve struggled with binge eating disorder.
I’ve punished my body with "fitness" that looked good from the outside but felt terrible on the inside.

And as a mom raising three Gen Z kids, I think about it all the time:

What are they learning from me?

Not from what I say.
From what I live.
From how I treat myself on the hard days.
From whether I celebrate my body for what it can do—or criticize it for how it looks.
From whether I use fitness as a form of punishment—or a form of care.

The truth is, our kids are always watching.
And if we want them to build lives rooted in real strength, real balance, and real worth, we have to show them what that looks like in real time—imperfections and all.

The Good News: Connection Over Competition

It’s not all doom and gloom.
There’s so much hope in how this generation is evolving their definition of wellness.

Gen Z isn’t just lifting heavier or training harder.
They’re also walking more, joining community fitness groups, prioritizing activities that are about connection, not competition.
They’re craving movement that feels good over movement that punishes.

And honestly, I’m proud to say that’s something I see in my own kids too.

Over the years, I’ve been open with them about my journey—the good, the bad, and everything in between.
We’ve had real conversations about why we move our bodies—not to change them, but to care for them.
About why fitness isn’t just about how you look—it’s about how you feel inside.
About how food is fuel, not a reward or a punishment.

And today, I can honestly say I’m proud of the healthy balance they’ve built with food, exercise, and how they view their bodies.

It’s been messy, it’s been imperfect, but it’s real.
And it’s proof that change is possible—starting right inside our own homes.

Closing Thoughts

At the end of the day, fitness can be an incredible tool for mental health, resilience, and joy.
But it’s not a cure-all.
And it’s not a shortcut to self-worth.

If we want to support Gen Z—and if we’re being honest, ourselves too—we have to keep asking better questions.
We have to champion movement that's rooted in joy, balance, and self-respect… not just aesthetics, PRs, or “before and after” photos.

Because the real goal isn’t six-pack abs.
It’s feeling strong in your body and in your mind.

And that kind of strength?
It lasts a lifetime.

I’m rooting for you,
With love and encouragement,
Beth

I’d love to hear your take—whether you’re a parent, a coach, or someone who’s walked the fine line between healthy and harmful habits yourself.
How do you think we can lead the next generation toward a healthier relationship with fitness and self-worth?