When I was a lad

clock

I was one of the lucky ones. I quite liked PE and sport at school but there were loads of kids who hated it - the mean spirited teachers, being the last one picked for the team, the cold showers, the list goes on. A lot of these kids left the running around and physical exercise until home time, without the threat of hard cricket balls and muddy footballs coming their way.

For many kids nowadays who aren’t keen on school PE lessons, it’s far more appealing to spend time after hours sitting on a warm couch playing the latest Playstation or Xbox game. Remembering this is the same generation that Jamie Oliver is desperately trying to lure away from turkey twizzlers, the inactivity of the nation’s future adults and the health risks this and their diet pose is a worrying combination. As a whole, the nation has become increasingly sedentary. According to a Department of Transport study, only 1 in 10 children now walk to school in comparison to 7 out of 10 in 197...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Protection

Pure protection in focus: FCA market study raises regulatory expectations for 2026

Pure protection in focus: FCA market study raises regulatory expectations for 2026

Commission models and fair value under scrutiny

Joe Norburn
clock 20 February 2026 • 6 min read
Scottish Widows adds beneficiary nomination

Scottish Widows adds beneficiary nomination

For life policies

Cameron Roberts
clock 18 February 2026 • 1 min read
Chesnara to close HSBC Life UK to new protection business

Chesnara to close HSBC Life UK to new protection business

Follows £260m acquisition

Jaskeet Briah
clock 04 February 2026 • 3 min read