Ever feel like you could sleep for eight hours, drink a massive cup of coffee, and still feel completely drained by lunchtime? You’re far from alone when it comes to chronic fatigue.
Energy has officially surpassed weight loss and gut health as the single biggest self-reported health concern among women, with recent studies showing up to 48% of women struggling with chronic low energy.
Gut health specialist Stacey Holland recently sat down with Biogen Face of Fitness winner Dr. Jalencke Coetzee, who is a general practitioner specialising in women’s health, weight management, and aesthetic medicine, to unpack the real, underlying reasons behind female fatigue.
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Fatigue is a signal
It turns out fatigue isn’t just one simple issue with a one-size-fits-all fix. It’s your body’s alarm system asking you to look closer.
Nutritional Gaps Beyond “Normal” Blood Work: Common deficiencies in iron, B12, vitamin D, and magnesium are frequent culprits behind constant tiredness. However, a standard lab test might label you “normal” even when your levels are far from optimal for thriving.
The Hidden Gut Connection: Even if you eat a clean diet, poor gut function can quietly block nutrient absorption, directly draining your energy reserves long before you notice digestive symptoms.
Stress & Cortisol (“Tired but Wired”): Chronic stress creates a distinct pattern of exhaustion. Learn how elevated cortisol disrupts your restorative sleep cycles and leaves you feeling wired at night and exhausted during the day.
Hormonal Dips vs. Myth: While perimenopause and monthly cycle shifts play a role in energy slumps, it is important to separate true hormonal fatigue from issues that just get unfairly blamed on hormones.
Under-Training & Improper Fuelling: Is exhaustion a sign to rest, or a signal to move? Under-training—or exercising without properly fuelling your body—is often a far bigger contributor to low energy than over-training.
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Reclaim your energy
In her informative chat with Stacey, Dr. Jalencke shares a simple, practical self-assessment framework you can use right away to pinpoint which area of your health needs attention first.
Stop guessing why you’re tired and start getting real answers.
Author: Pedro van Gaalen
When he’s not writing about sport or health and fitness, Pedro is probably out training for his next marathon or ultra-marathon. He’s worked as a fitness professional and as a marketing and comms expert. He now combines his passions in his role as managing editor at Fitness magazine.
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