People who have regular fitness checks – and are therefore more in tune with the state of their physical condition – are more likely to achieve their health goals, such as reducing cholesterol, bringing down blood pressure and lowering body mass index (BMI).

The findings come from research by not-for-profit healthcare company Nuffield Health, which analysed data from 748 adult health club members. Nuffield looked at gym members who had two health check-ups over a 12 month period and then compared it to those who had three.

Those who had three health check-ups in a year were 17 per cent more likely to reduce their cholesterol, 18 per cent more likely to reduce their blood pressure and 24 per cent more likely to lower their BMI when compared to those who had two check-ups.

Those who had three health check-ups made a bigger impact, reducing their BMI by nearly twice that of those who had two.

The biggest change was seen with waist size, with those who had three health check-ups over 12 months 30 per cent more likely to reduce the number of inches around their waist and had a 79 per cent greater reduction in girth than those who had only two.

Sophie Attwood, Nuffield Health behavioural scientist, said: “These results show a positive trend associated with those who more regularly have their health and fitness measured.

“For those trying to achieve health and fitness improvements, setting goals and seeing positive results can be a significant motivator.”