CDC Survey Finds Majority of U.S. Adults Experience Frequent Fatigue

A new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics indicates that roughly 71.5% of U.S. adults experienced fatigue on multiple days during the preceding three months. The study, which surveyed about 27,000 adults in 2024, found that women and people aged 18-34 reported fatigue more often than men and older adults.

"Fatigue is one of the most frequently reported health concerns in primary care," the report stated, adding that it is "generally defined as physical or mental tiredness or exhaustion that does not improve with additional sleep or rest."

The report highlighted that frequent fatigue is linked to higher risks of activity limitations, disability, and poorer health outcomes, including increased mortality. It also noted that individuals with frequent fatigue often report additional functional difficulties, such as anxiety (69.6%), cognitive problems (46.1%) and depressive symptoms (45.0%). Those experiencing frequent fatigue were more than three times as likely to have depression and about twice as likely to report anxiety or cognitive difficulty.

Frequency varied by demographic groups: 19.5% of adults aged 18-34 reported fatigue most days or every day, compared with 12.9% of those 65 and older. Women reported a 20% rate versus 13% for men. Among racial groups, American Indian and Alaska Native adults had the highest rate (25.5%), while Asian adults reported the lowest (9.1%). Geographic differences showed higher rates in the South (17.7%) and Midwest (17.5%) than in the West (15.6%) and Northeast (14.5%).

The CDC report did not examine underlying causes of fatigue. Health experts, including Mayo Clinic specialists, suggest that managing sleep habits, regular exercise, and stress-reduction techniques may help, but they advise individuals with persistent fatigue to seek medical evaluation to identify potential underlying conditions.