1 in 6 Americans are chronically exhausted, CDC says

A new CDC report suggests that roughly one in six U.S. adults experience frequent fatigue, exhaustion that doesn’t improve with sleep or rest.

The report was published by CDC’s National Centre for Health Statistics on September 3, 2026, analysing 2024 survey data from around 27,000 adults.

The analysis revealed that around 71.5% reported feeling tired on several days over the past three months, while 16.6% had “frequent fatigue”, indicating a feeling of exhaustion for “most days” or “every day.”

Women reported frequent fatigue at higher rates than men, 20% and 30% respectively, and younger adults aged 18-34 were more affected (19.5%) than those 65 and older (12.9%).

American Indian and Alaska Native adults had the highest prevalence of 25.5 per cent, while Asian adults had the lowest at 9.1 per cent.

Fatigue is not merely a matter of being sleepy. Those who experienced frequent fatigue had more than three times the risk of depression symptoms and nearly double the risk of anxiety and cognitive problems. Over 69 per cent also suffered from anxiety, and more than a third felt that fatigue interfered with their work.

The researchers observed that the study does not determine the reasons for fatigue, and it is also not known if the prevalence of the problem is increasing. However, it was suggested that an active lifestyle and lack of sleep might be factors.

To combat daytime fatigue, doctors recommend regular exercise, proper hydration, balanced meals, and consistent sleep schedules. A short walk or stretching can help boost energy, while naps should be limited to 20 minutes. If exhaustion persists despite good sleep, a doctor’s visit is advised.