Leading figures from the health club industry have called for more government action to help improve the health of the nation.

Members of the FIA’s Vanguard Council told the sports minister, Richard Caborn, that more help was needed if the private sector was to help the government increase physical activity levels.

“You don’t need to send people to us with a £5 strapped to their backs, just inform and encourage them to use the facilities that are already there. We all have spare capacity,” said Cannon’s chief executive, Harm Tegelaars.

The industry heads also called for a national campaign – similar to the government’s drink driving and seatbelt campaigns – to raise awareness of the dangers of inactivity.

In response, Caborn said that while Whitehall recognised the need to change the public’s mentality about exercise, the industry must be more creative if it is to secure help from the Treasury.

He said the current view was that the majority of members were from ABC households, which are generally conscious of the need to keep fit.

“The Treasury wants to focus on the CDEs, where the obesity and health issues feature the most,” said Caborn.