The debate was chaired by Mr Roger Watterson of Manx Radio fame, and was recorded and will be aired on Manx Radio in an edited form at 12 noon on Sunday 4 th July, with a discussion in the studio which you can as usual access on the phone if you so desire.

So you can hear it on air if you were unable to attend the debate.

If you miss this transmission it will be on the Manx Radio website for the whole week after transmission on their archive section.

Answering the questions

Answering the questions at the Manx Museum were Dr Emran Khan the Chairman of the Isle of Man Obesity Forum and Consultant Diabetologist at the Manx Diabetes Centre.

Dr Annie Kurien the Consultant Paediatrician at the Children's Ward at Nobles Hospital .

Dr Paul Emerson the Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health Directorate of the Isle of Man.

Mrs Penny Creighton, Educational Consultant, and ex member of the Education Department.

Mrs Sue Christie, the Dietetic Services Manager at Noble's Hospital.

Three stands were also in evidence which were set up on each side and the centre of the rostrum.

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The second by the dieticians of the Manx Diabetes Centre entitled Healthy Eating. This was manned by Sarah Surgeon and Ruth Hartley.

Last but not least an area provided by Bree Carruthers the representative of Roche Pharmaceuticals, who specialise in obesity and weight loss.

Roche Pharmaceuticals also provided the refreshments.

This was the first time that representatives of those who were dealing with the obesity problem on the Isle of Man had got together to debate this all important issue.

The debate was opened by Mr Roger Watterson who in welcoming all those present gave them an explanation of what the debate was all about why we were gathered at the Manx Museum and explained the origins of obesity from its Latin beginnings to the present day.

He ended up with an assessment of the impact of obesity on the Island , were those responsible for the Health of our community not to address this issue with the utmost urgency.

Mr Watterson then invited Dr Khan to set the scene to the debate.

Dr Khan with a plethora of slides and a wealth of information brought those in the auditorium up to date with developments around the world and why obesity if not checked would take a toll, not only in lives but also on our National Health budgets.

In particular he took his amazed listeners through a map of America which showed all States. and how from one little red dot denoting obesity, the obesity epidemic had spread slowly but surely over all the states until the slide on the screen showed all the states and the whole of America completely in bright red.