When she was 14, Debra Bailey weighed more than 200 pounds. Although she struggled for 30 years, she couldn't seem to drop the weight.

But, when pneumonia almost hospitalised her and everyday things like putting on socks became a chore, she realised she had to do something.

Now as The Royal Gazette launches its Have A Heart campaign, Debra, now 120 pounds lighter, is urging her fellow Bermudians to put down the fried chicken, take to the streets and start living healthily. It's a call that activists and health professionals have been making for years as Bermuda's obesity and diabetes rate surpasses even the United States.

The Bermuda Department of Health has identified being overweight and obesity to be the number one health problem for the country because the conditions also contribute to development of type II diabetes, heart disease and others health problems.

In a 2006 Health Survey, they found that 63 percent of adults in Bermuda were above a normal body weight for their height, 38 percent were overweight and 25 percent were obese.

That is an increase for Bermuda since 1999 when 57 percent of adults were found to be overweight or obese.

For children and adolescents, the 2006 Health Survey is equally alarming. It found that 36 percent of 5-10 year olds were overweight or obese and in 2001, 2.5 percent of adolescents aged 11 to 17 were overweight.

Activity was also measured with 18 percent of adults being largely sedentary (engaged in less than 10 minutes of moderate activity daily) and only 65 percent engaged in moderate physical activity at least five days a week.

The number of adults who eat three portions of fruits and vegetables a day has also dropped since 1999 when 34 percent ate three servings down to only 17 percent in 2006.

A survey of teenagers in 2001 found that 31 percent skip breakfast, which has been linked to increasing obesity by leaving people hungrier and more likely to binge later in the day.

Debra, 45, says she's a living example of these numbers as she skipped breakfast daily and watched her 5-foot, 5-inch frame balloon to 277 pounds. When she decided to get serious about losing weight, she turned to Canadian weight loss system Herbal Magic and began eating three meals a day.

"Previous diets restricted consumption of food where this teaches you have to eat properly," she said. "You have to eat three meals a day, you can't skip. You need large amounts of the proper stuff."

The stay-at-home mom, currently living in Brantford, Ontario, said the diet required her to eat three proteins, three vegetables, three fruits, two dairy, two fats, two starches and one exchange item such a unbuttered popcorn or skim milk.

It worked and now she, along with other leaders in the community, is urging Bermudians to look at themselves and admit they need to take the challenge offered by Live Healthy Bermuda 100-Day challenge.

Jennifer Attride-Stirling, Health Promotion Coordinator for the Department of Health, says she supports the Live Healthy Bermuda challenge and The Royal Gazette's campaign.

She said: "The Department of Health is supporting the campaign because the number one health problem in Bermuda is obesity."

Louise Jackson, shadow Health Minister, thanked The Royal Gazette for keeping the topic of obesity and healthy living in the public domain.

Mrs. Jackson, who was a physical education teacher, said she hopes this campaign, as well as other health initiatives, will help bring to the forefront, Bermuda's biggest health problem — obesity.

She said: "I know the value of exercise and physical activity on so many levels. It will help you physically, but also mentally. You find that children involved in sport. You will find they are farther along in school that those that are not.

"I congratulate the newspaper and the Bermuda Diabetes Association that has done some of the best work on education on a topic that has effected everyone."

Terry Faulkenberry, the Aspen's Property Reinsurance Operations Manager, said he thought the 100-day Challenge and The Royal Gazette's campaign were fantastic ideas.

He said: "I think it's a fantastic idea. It has certainly raised the profile of the problem. The more people who can share their stories the more success it may have."

And a spokesperson from ACE Insurance said: "ACE has always considered the health and welfare of our employees a priority and this is reflected in our employee benefit programmers. ACE applauds the Bermuda Diabetes Association and The Royal Gazette in their efforts to build awareness and understanding of the importance of healthy eating and exercise."

"We are particularly encouraged that many ACE employees are participating in the 100-day challenge and we look forward to supporting them in achieving their goals through our in-house health club and wellness programmes."

One person who also sees first hand the problems created by obesity is Sarah Burrows, of the Bermuda Diabetes Association, who says she welcomes the paper's initiative because it will hopefully keep everyone motivated.

She said: "This is what is vitally important. We need to partner with everybody because, if we will all work together, then we might be able to tackle this.

"We have launched this 100-Day Challenge but our greatest concern is that people will fall off, but this campaign should help keep them motivated."