Indonesia's Gen Z Puts Holistic Health Above the Rest

Indonesia's youngest adults are quietly leading one of the biggest lifestyle shifts in the region, and holistic health sits at the center of it. New findings released this month show that 72 percent of Indonesian Gen Z respondents now engage in health and wellness activities more frequently than they did three years ago, with Millennials close behind at 79 percent. The data comes from the APAC Wellness Culture Survey, commissioned by Herbalife and conducted in May 2026 among more than 10,000 respondents across 11 markets, with the Indonesia findings reported by ObserverID.

For Indonesian Gen Z, holistic health starts in the mind. The survey found that 74 percent rank mental health as a top priority, above physical health at 66 percent and emotional health at 59 percent, according to the report. That ordering flips for older generations: Gen X and Baby Boomers still lead with physical health. Mental health is also the area where young Indonesians say they need the greatest support, the report found — a sign that awareness is running ahead of the resources available to act on it.

What they want to fix: sleep, food and stress

Sleep is the number-one improvement target. Among Indonesian Gen Z, 52 percent want better sleep quality, followed by dietary nutrition at 50 percent, mental health and stress management at 49 percent, and emotional well-being at 36 percent, according to the report. Intentions are backed by action: 58 percent say they are actively improving their sleep hygiene, while 56 percent have adopted healthier diets and regular exercise, the survey found. That follow-through is what turns good intentions into a lasting holistic health routine, because sleep compounds — better rest sharpens focus, steadies mood and makes workouts and healthier meals easier to stick with — the daily mechanics of holistic health.

Across the wider region, the appetite for holistic health looks just as strong. Four in five APAC respondents — 82 percent — call holistic health very or extremely important, and 74 percent say it matters more to them than it did three years ago, according to Herbalife's announcement. The region's top improvement needs mirror Indonesia's: sleep quality at 44 percent, mental well-being and stress management at 38 percent, nutrition quality at 31 percent and weight management at 30 percent. Respondents named aging at 46 percent, personal health scares at 42 percent, growing awareness of wellness trends at 32 percent and a desire to invest in long-term health at 31 percent as the forces driving the shift, the announcement said.

Run clubs, padel courts and the social side of wellness

Wellness in Indonesia is becoming a group activity. Running, padel, pickleball, Pilates, futsal and hiking are surging in popularity among young people, frequently documented and shared across social media — a public record of a holistic health identity taking shape, as reported by ObserverID. Among Indonesian Gen Z, 64 percent say social media had a positive influence on their physical health over the past year, and 54 percent say the same for their mental health. Immediate social circles play an even bigger role at 68 percent, with online communities at 43 percent, according to the report.

The offline version is visible across the country, where organized running events, padel courts and fitness centers bring together people with shared holistic health goals. Oktrianto Wahyu Jatmiko, Director and General Manager of Herbalife Indonesia, said in a statement that these connections "help convert healthy intentions into sustainable daily habits." Millennials ride the same wave: 62 percent credit social media as a positive driver for physical health, 57 percent for emotional health and 55 percent for mental health. If you are building your own routine, our GenZ NewZ health coverage tracks the latest research, including new findings on insomnia and stroke risk.

The fine print: who paid for the survey

There is an important caveat. The survey was commissioned by Herbalife, a nutrition products company, so the findings arrive with a commercial interest behind them — firms that sell wellness products have a stake in wellness culture growing. Self-reported survey data also reflects how people describe their habits, not necessarily how they behave. Read with that in mind, the trend lines still tell a coherent story: younger Indonesians are spending real time and money on healthier routines, whether or not a brand funded the questionnaire.

There is also room to grow. Region-wide, only two in five respondents say their current state of physical, mental and emotional health is better than three years ago, and the biggest obstacles are a lack of time at 38 percent and a lack of motivation at 34 percent, according to Herbalife's announcement. "Holistic health is something that needs to be built consistently over time," said Thomas Harms, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Herbalife, in a statement. For readers, the survey doubles as a practical checklist: protect your sleep, eat a little better, manage stress — and find people to do it with. That is what a holistic health movement looks like when it works.