Women aged 16 to 24 are only half as active as males of the same age, according to the results of the Sweat in the City pilot scheme.

Managed by The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, in collaboration with the FIA, the activity scheme was designed to monitor changing attitudes towards fitness during a 12-week exercise programme completed by female Londoners who did little-to-no exercise.

The initiative offered free access to more than 100 London clubs, providing the opportunity to try traditional gym activities as well as the less conventional fencing, boxing and rowing.

Of the 2,000 women who participated, 30 per cent have gone on to secure memberships at the gym they used, and 20 per cent have developed a more positive opinion about their bodies.

The proportion of the women who said they enjoyed sport and exercise also rose from 5 to 30 per cent, with 90 per cent of participants pledging to stay active in one way or another now that the programme has ended.