The day before the smoking ban came into effect in Scotland, leisure facility operator Edinburgh Leisure took its health and fitness roadshow to two of the city’s shopping centres to help smokers kick the habit and get healthy.

“An estimated 30 per cent of Scottish smokers aimed to quit smoking following the ban,” said a spokesperson for Edinburgh Leisure. “But, once the ban came into force, would-be non-smokers’ minds may well have turned to the next hurdle: avoiding piling on the pounds as they reach for the choccies ahead of the ciggies.

“Of course, this doesn’t have to the case and the leisure trust’s aim for the day was to convince smokers that, when giving up, you don't have to put on weight.”

During the roadshow, as well as providing information and advice to smokers on how to give up, Edinburgh Leisure staff carried out mini health checks and ran promotions offering free one-week passes to the trust’s facilities, no joining fee for those signing up and a prize draw to win a year’s free membership.

The initiative proved a great success, and membership sales since the ban have boomed, said the trust’s health and fitness manager, Lorraine Young.

“It’s been just over a week since the smoking ban came into force and we have already recruited 650 new members,” she said.

“Given this is three times the number (220) we sold this time last year, I think it demonstrates how effective the gym can be as a foil to giving up smoking and, with it, maintaining a healthier, more enjoyable, lifestyle.” Details: www.edinburghleisure.co.uk