CDC Survey Finds Women More Likely Than Men to Report Frequent Fatigue

A 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of almost 27,000 U.S. adults found that more than half of women reported feeling fatigued on some days, and nearly one-fifth said they experienced fatigue most days or every day. By contrast, men were less likely to report frequent fatigue. The study also indicated that adults aged 18 to 34 were more prone to frequent fatigue, while those 65 and older reported it less often.

Frequent fatigue, defined by researchers as physical or mental tiredness that does not improve with additional sleep or rest, affected about one in six adults overall. The survey noted regional differences, with roughly 18% of respondents in the South and Midwest reporting frequent fatigue compared to about 15% in the West and Northeast.

Experts cited in the report linked higher fatigue rates among women to a greater burden of responsibilities and hormonal fluctuations. Clinical psychologist Jennifer Caspari said, "People are incredibly busy. They’re stressed. They’re feeling spread thin. They have a lot on their plates and only so many hours in the day. They’re trying to cram in so much."

Lead author sociologist Natalie A.E. Young added that frequent fatigue often co-occurs with cognitive difficulties, depression and anxiety, limiting daily functioning. The study did not examine underlying causes or compare the findings with previous years.