WITH some of the world's highest obesity rates, they could be mockingly described as "the puddin'-race".

But according to one of the leading medical experts sitting in the House of Lords haggis could be a key weapon in the United States' war on weight.

Ahead of Burns' Night, Lord McColl of Dulwich, a retired professor of surgery, said American Scots were being deprived of the "wholesome" food and called on the United States to lift its ban on the import of Scotland's national dish.

At question time in the House of Lords, Tory Lord McColl called for the Government to put pressure on the American administration to lift the ban, which has been in place since 1971.

He told peers: "The United States government is depriving 24 million American Scots of this wholesome food which satisfies hunger very much more than the junk food Americans consume.

"This would help to deal with the greatest epidemic they have, the obesity epidemic, which is killing millions, costing billions of dollars and the cure is free."

But Lord Winston, a leading fertility doctor and television presenter, hit back, saying that haggis was "revolting" but if it could be used to curb obesity it should be promoted in Glasgow first.

Conservative peer Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, a former Scottish Secretary, also joked that former First Minister Alex Salmond should be sent permanently to the States to sort the obesity issue with haggis.

Labour peer Lord Winston said: "I confess to being a little bit surprised that one of the most senior qualified medical practitioners in the chamber is asking this question seeing there is a questionable issue about haggis, which I find personally a revolting food.

"Would charity be better at home and if it does really deal with obesity maybe we should be promoting it a little bit in Glasgow?"

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Lord de Mauley replied to the suggestion of making the residents of Scotland's largest city guinea pigs for the haggis weight loss claims by adding: "What a good idea."

He recommend a "large tot of whisky" to help Lord Winston enjoy some haggis.

But the Scottish Government's minister for external affairs and international development Humza Yousaf described Lord Winston's comments as "a terrible affront to the great chieftain o' the pudding-race".

The Glasgow MSP said: "Wee sleekit cow'rin tim'rous Lords might not like haggis but in the run up to Burns Night I am delighted that millions of people around the world will be enjoying Scotland's national dish.

"This year, 2015, is Scotland's Year of Food and Drink, with a huge increase in our food and drink exports over the last five years it is clear many of those across the globe clearly don't share Lord Winston's opinion."

During the Lords exchange it was claimed former environment secretary Owen Paterson had lobbied the US authorities on lifting the ban during a visit last summer.

Lord de Mauley said the barriers included restrictions on the import of lamb and the US's unwillingness to recognise animal lungs as an acceptable food stuff.

Lord Forsyth quipped: "Given the seriousness of this matter, should the Government not consider appointing a special envoy with energy and imagination to go to the United States and stay there until this matter is resolved. "Could I suggest that Alex Salmond is currently looking for a job."