US Teens Rank High in Tiredness

The results of an international study, published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, indicated that 15-year-old students in the United States are more apt to feel tired in the morning, compared with students in other countries. During the study, the researchers learned that ~40% of US students reported feeling exhausted, compared with <15% in the lowest-ranked countries.

In comparing boys and girls, the investigators found that 41% of the American boys reported a hard time sleeping at least 1 time a week, earning them first place in the comparison study. Meanwhile, 46% of the American girls reported weekly difficulty, coming in second after French girls. The rates for US students fell in line with those for students from Canada, Wales, and Israel. The results suggested school schedules, diet, and exercise as possible contributing factors.