Why Do Some Young Women Struggle to Stick With Exercise?

Stopping an exercise routine is not always a sign of laziness or weak willpower. For some young women, consistency may be affected by overlapping factors including fatigue, academic or work pressures, low fitness levels, body composition, limited time and a lack of supportive or accessible exercise environments.

An observational study involving 552 university students with an average age of about 20 found that higher fatigue levels were associated with greater perceived barriers to physical activity. Intrinsic motivation, such as enjoying the activity or feeling a sense of achievement, was linked to fewer barriers, while a lack of motivation was associated with greater difficulty participating.

The study also identified a higher body-fat percentage as one of the physical factors associated with greater perceived exercise barriers. However, this does not mean that body composition determines whether someone will succeed or fail.

Because the research was observational, it could not prove that higher body fat directly caused lower participation. The relationship may work in both directions: inactivity can affect body composition, while low fitness or reduced muscle strength can make exercise feel harder at the beginning.

This can create a difficult cycle. Exercise feels physically demanding, motivation falls, workouts become less frequent and fitness declines further.

A separate study involving 600 university students, evenly divided between women and men, found that female students reported higher overall barriers to physical activity. These included low energy, lack of time, safety concerns and limited access to suitable or affordable facilities.

The researchers cautioned that the findings could not be generalized to all young women and did not establish cause and effect.

Persistent fatigue should also not be dismissed. It may be linked to insufficient sleep, psychological stress, inadequate nutrition or exercising at an intensity that exceeds the body’s current capacity.

Low iron may be another factor, particularly among young women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Health Canada says low iron can cause fatigue, weakness and reduced productivity, and reports that about one in four women between the ages of 14 and 50 has low iron status.

This does not mean iron supplements should be taken without medical advice. Fatigue accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations or heavy periods should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Building a sustainable exercise habit does not require beginning with an intense one-hour workout. Ten minutes of walking or a brief home-based strength session may be a more realistic starting point. Duration and intensity can then increase gradually as energy and fitness improve.

The World Health Organization recommends that adults work toward 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises on at least two days. Reaching that target, however, can begin with small and manageable amounts of movement.

Difficulty maintaining an exercise routine is not always a failure of discipline. The body may be tired, the program may be unsuitable or the environment may not be supportive. Understanding those barriers can help turn exercise into a gradual habit rather than a test of body shape or personal strength.