The main findings include a target to expand career development planning to all the 200,000 plus people who work in the fitness industry. According to FIA figures, at present only fitness instructors, who represent around 15 per cent of sector employees, have any career pathways.

Making the announcement, FIA's executive director David Stalker also said that the industry should strive to meet the opportunities posed by the government's Responsibility Deal and the current public health strategy's focus on increasing the nation's physical activity levels.

Other statements arising from the consultation, which will form the basis of the FIA's five-year strategy for the sector, included:
• Data/evidence is key to prove the efficacy of the fitness industry's offering
• Developing more profound consumer insights is vital if the sector is to enhance its relevance to existing and potential users - and break through the 12 per cent "glass ceiling".

Stalker, speaking at the Leisure Industry Week event in Birmingham this morning (21 September), added: "Working together as an industry, we can improve the lives of the whole nation and with it reduce that £100bn price tag for ill health.

"The government has recognised this and so must we - and in that realisation we must review what we do and how we do it and not be afraid to, where necessary, enhance and/or evolve it.

"The strategy couldn't have come at a more significant time as it supports the government's Responsibility Deal - an invitation to business to be part of three working groups designed to address the nation's major public health issues: poor diet, alcohol abuse and lack of exercise.

The TwentyTen Commission was an industry consultation, which took place between September 2009 and August 2010 and was designed to help develop the five year strategy for the sector.

A detailed delivery strategy for each of the conclusions will be developed over the next three months.