Too tired to be healthy? You’re not alone, survey finds

The poll of 2,086 adults was conducted online by YouGov on behalf of the World Cancer Research Fund and published May 17. It asked people what prevented them from making healthy changes to diet and being more physically active.

For 38% of people, the answer was absence of motivation, while 35% reported feeling “too tired.” Many more women — 40 percent — reported exhaustion as a reason, compared with 29% of men. The divide was stark among age groups as well. Almost 50% of the younger people (25to 34-year-olds) said exhaustion was a factor, while 23% of 55-year-olds and above cited the reason. (Respondents could select more than one option.)

Lack of time, high gym fees and food prices were other reasons that deterred people from being or eating healthier, the survey said.

“People have busy schedules, and we know that for many, the last thing they might feel like doing when they are tired or lacking in motivation is to start cooking from scratch or going to the gym,” Matt Lambert, health information and promotion manager of the cancer fund, said in an email. However, he added, taking small achievable steps can help without the pressure of overhauling your life.