Almost a third of middle-aged people put off exercise 'for life' by trauma of PE lessons

By SHAUN WOOLLER, EXECUTIVE HEALTH EDITOR Published: 00:01, 21 April 2026 | Updated: 00:27, 21 April 2026 The trauma of school PE lessons has put almost a third of middle-aged Britons off exercise for life, a charity warns. Age UK is urging people to overcome their fears and take up sport by joining inclusive classes and activities that can boost their health and confidence. It comes after a poll found 29 per cent of adults still feel ‘traumatised’ by school PE lessons, with 28 per cent put off exercise and sport ‘for life’. The survey of 2,385 UK adults aged 50 to 65 found 40 per cent still recall being picked last for teams and the same number are haunted by memories of being body-conscious during classes. Age UK, which commissioned the Yonder study, said sports groups are now more ‘inclusive, supportive and welcoming’ than they were 30 to 40 years ago and there has ‘never been a better time for mid-lifers to reconnect with fitness and find a community that truly embraces them’. It has partnered with major sporting bodies to put on free taster sessions this spring and summer including, badminton, cycling, rowing, boxing, netball, tennis, swimming and rugby. Paul Farmer, chief executive at Age UK, said: ‘Our research shows that millions of mid-lifers feel held back by past sports memories. ‘Challenging PE lessons, worries about judgment and feeling self-conscious, can make physical activity feel out of reach – and can feel like something “only young people do”. Memories of traumatic PE classes - such as cross-country running - put people off wanting to exercise years later. ‘With Act Now, Age Better, and the support of our many sporting partners, our aim is to create inclusive, enjoyable opportunities that genuinely meet people where they are.’ The latest figures from Sport England show fewer than two in three adults (63.7 per cent) meet the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of doing at least 150 minutes moderate intensity physical activity a week, falling to 58 per cent for those aged 55 and over. The Age UK campaign has been backed by Olympians Dame Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell. Dame Kelly, who won gold in the 800 and 1,500 metres in Athens in 2004, said: ‘The benefits of sport and exercise are endless. ‘It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional athlete competing on a world stage, or a busy parent who has just managed to carve out a few hours for yourself one evening a week to head along to your local netball group. 'It’s about self-care, making new connections, feeling team spirit, supporting mental health, getting outside and feeling strong and capable for as long as possible. ‘It might feel like a small thing, or a task that can be shoved to the bottom of a never-ending to-do list, but trust me – it can make a world of difference.’ Age UK is encouraging older people to try exercising again, saying it can be good for their confidence and health. Gunnell, who won gold in the 400 metre hurdles in 1992 in Barcelona, added: ‘For me, being active has always meant far more to me than medals or podiums. ‘It’s about feeling strong in your body, clear in your mind and connected to the people around you. ‘You don’t have to be an athlete to get moving and it doesn’t have to feel daunting. ‘There are so many options out there from local exercise classes, to badminton and bowls, and cricket to pickleball, there has never been a better time to make your next move to step towards a healthier later life, and a small step today can make a real difference to how you feel tomorrow.’ No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.