Expert Source: CDC Finds 1 in 6 Adults Experiencing Frequent Fatigue
Frequent Fatigue Is Limiting Work for More Than a Third of Affected U.S. Adults
Frequent fatigue is affecting many Americans’ ability to work, with 36% of adults who feel very tired or exhausted most or every day reporting limits on the type or amount of work they can perform.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 16.6% of U.S. adults experienced fatigue most days or every day during the prior three months. A broader 71.5% said they felt very tired or exhausted on at least some days during that period.
The figures point to a workplace issue that extends beyond individual well-being, potentially affecting concentration, productivity and employee engagement. The CDC data, as cited in outreach from Transform Group, did not quantify employers’ aggregate financial costs from fatigue-related work limitations.
Patrice Bonfiglio, author of The Burnout Imperative, said organizations can assess fatigue and burnout through measures including productivity losses, disengagement and turnover. Her suggested responses include reviewing commitments and tasks that drain employees’ energy, strengthening support systems and creating uninterrupted periods for focused work.
The data also underscore that fatigue may require both individual and organizational responses, particularly for workers whose exhaustion is persistent enough to interfere with their job duties.