Everyone in the Senate with the exception of Senator Wayne Caines is at least ten pounds overweight, Senator Thaao Dill told the Upper House.

However, Sen. Dill withdrew his remark after he was challenged by Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley, who said: "Don't put me in that bracket."

Sen. Dill caused the kerfuffle after reading draft regulations over a number of health insurance amendments.

As the discussion turned to the health of the nation, Sen. Dill said: "Every one of my colleagues round this table, save Senator Caines, is at least ten or 15 pounds overweight."

Following the interjection of Sen. Dunkley and a number of lighthearted rebukes from other Senators, Sen. Dill asked to withdraw his comment.

He clarified: "There are certain lifestyle choices that we can all make in this chamber. These are choices that are obvious."

Sen. Dill continued by saying social instincts were sometimes difficult to ignore.

One of the health insurance amendments which Sen. Dill mentioned was a move for Bermuda Diabetes Association to be covered under Government's Health Insurance Programme.

BDA boasts new technology which can measure glucose levels, diabetic counselling and diabetic education.

The group is attempting to tackle alarming figures that show about 13 percent of Islanders have diabetes — about double the rate of the US.

It is partly brought on by soaring obesity levels which last summer highlighted Bermuda as the fourth fattest country in the world.