Government campaigns to increase awareness of official guidelines for healthy living are failing to reach consumers, a new report suggests.

According to the latest annual Health Survey for England, more than two thirds of people do not know how much exercise they should do to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The majority also do not know the maximum amount of alcohol they should consume in a day and only a handful can describe a portion of fruit or vegetables.

However, the report suggests that exercise levels and fruit and vegetable consumption are increasing despite the confusion.

Dr Mark Davies, medical director of the NHS Information Centre, commented: "It is important that people understand the health implications of the lifestyle choices they make.

"It is of concern that the messages of safe alcohol intake, appropriate exercise levels and healthy eating do not seem to be getting through to all parts of the population."

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo welcomed the news that people are choosing to live more healthily.