Up to 95 per cent of people in the UK now recognise that exercise is an essential aspect to living a healthy life.

The figure comes from the ninth annual Health and Fitness Omnibus Survey (HAFOS) by Leisure-net Solutions, which shows that half the adult population would like to be more active.

The report also reveals that the number of people who'd consider using their local leisure centre is up significantly on last year, with more than half (58 per cent) of the sample stating they were open to the idea (compared to 41 per cent in 2009).

The biggest barriers for people to get more active are the cost of gyms and the perceived lack of time - 54 per cent of respondents population considers a busy lifestyle to be the principle hurdle to exercise while direct costs rating almost as highly (41 per cent).

Mike Hill, managing director of Leisure-net Solutions, said: "The perception of time as a barrier is one that must be addressed by operators, regardless of whether it's a true barrier or just an excuse."

David Stalker, executive director of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), added: "The HAFOS 2010 report provides essential insight into the consumer mindset around physical activity. It allows us to evaluate how far we've come since last year and where we need to focus our effort in order to motivate and support more consumers to engage with physical activity in the year head."

HAFOS 2010 was based on a national sample of 2,648 people interviewed at 20 locations across England. HAFOS 2010 was supported by councils and trusts across the UK, plus various organisations, notably the FIA, SIBEC and sporta.