“I got it from my parents” is a statement we often hear from people trapped in physical or other limitations. People will gracefully sink into a state of gross obesity, diabetes or alcoholism, blaming it on their genes.

Dr Rekha Shetty

In a new survey of 40-year-olds in Britain, most picked age 33 as their most rewarding and contented year. They felt life was more fun and most felt optimistic about the future.