Obesity is one of the biggest health problems facing the United Kingdom in the 21st century, according to Sir Michael Hirst, chairman of Diabetes UK.

In an interview with , Sir Michael downplayed reports that he has revolutionised the second oldest diabetes charity since taking the helm in 2001.

But he admitted that it has ?undergone quite a transformation? and explained that the group lobby government steadily to get its message through.

He said that Diabetes UK now plays ?a full part in influencing the health policy makers in the UK that obesity is a major epidemic that has to be tackled?. In fact the organisation has dubbed obesity and diabetes ?the twin health epidemics?.

In Bermuda at the invitation of the Bermuda Diabetes Association, Sir Michael will be the keynote speaker at its annual general meeting tomorrow night at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. He will also address Hamilton Rotarians at their weekly luncheon today.

He said he wasn?t sure of local obesity statistics, but the trend was up ? at an alarming rate. And he noted that in the UK many children were being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which was avoidable and a result of obesity. ?One of the saddest developments is that children as young as eight-years-old are being diagnosed with Type 2,? he said. And he stressed that as a result they faced the same complications of heart attack, blindness, strokes, kidney failure and amputations, as adults with the disease.

Sir Michael was drawn to the diabetes campaign after his daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of five ( Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease and not a result of obesity or improper diet). Not surprisingly one of his most passionate fights is to make daily physical education classes, of at least 30-minutes in length, mandatory in all schools. Sir Michael explained that a general lifestyle shift has contributed largely to the problem with children watching TV and being driven by car.

Of course a major cause of obesity is over eating ? people consuming more calories than their bodies use up. On this front Sir Michael said his charity also campaign for healthy eating. ?In schools we encourage healthy eating ? fruit and vegetables not burgers and French fries.? The importance of regular exercise for everyone is the other message the UK charity tries to drive home. ?At the moment the medical services tend to treat people when they become seriously obese in later life,? he said. ?We have to break into that cycle and shift cycles. In the UK the government is at last getting the message that obesity is probably the greatest public health challenge of the 21rst century.?

Diabetes is often dubbed ?the silent killer? because victims die from resulting diseases.

@EDITRULE:The public are invited to the AGM meeting tomorrow night at BUEI at 7 p.m. Sir Michael?s talk will be preceded by free blood screenings and blood sugar meters with the purchase of test strips from 6 p.m. Call 293-2027 for more information.