Edinburgh players, Ben Meyer, Ben Gissing and Matt Mustchin rolled up their sleeves to help tackle obesity in Scotland's capital.

The three Kiwis had to wrestle a 60kg mound of fat in a tug o' war contest - the brainchild of Edinburgh Leisure to show that people can shift fat if they apply themselves.

Edinburgh Leisure, which manages the city’s leisure portfolio of 34 sports and leisure facilities, is calling on the inhabitants of Edinburgh to lead Scotland in becoming more active and to show that with some determination, fat - no matter how stubborn - can be shifted.

On average, people in Scotland carry approximately 4kg of extra weight – the 60kg pile of fat being tackled by lean, mean and entirely muscle-enwrapped sporting icons, Ben Gissing, Ben Meyer and Matt Mustchin represents the extra weight a mere 15 Scots adults are carrying about with them.

Obesity is on the rise throughout Scotland and is posing a serious threat to the nation’s health; with official statistics now showing that Scotland has the second highest level of obesity in the developed world, pipped to the post only by the US.  

Last week it was announced the Scottish Government is spending an extra £40 million over the next three years on health improvement initiatives, £15 million of that directly targeting the problem of obesity.  Whilst diet is often mentioned in the battle against obesity, recent reports have shifted emphasis on to the Scottish ‘sedentary’ lifestyle. 

Keith Jackson, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure, is firmly backing their endeavours. He said: “The City of Edinburgh Council has a vision to make Edinburgh the most active city in Europe by 2020.  As the largest leisure provider in the city, we are very much part of that initiative and so  we wanted to show Edinburgh why they can help Scotland’s desire to lose the title of one of the fattest nations.”

He continued: “The sight of 60kg of fat is a shocking image but we hope to send out a strong message to people in Edinburgh and to the rest of Scotland that we’re leading the way when it comes to physical activity and leading healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. We want more and more people to participate in physical activity and prove that it is possible to shift the excess fat of the nation if we all get behind it.”