Central Victorian obesity rates sat above the national average, of 30 per cent for women and 32 for men in 2017-18.

An expert has called for a whole system approach to solving the problem of obesity in Australia, saying it strongly correlated to socio-economic disadvantage.

The Central Goldfields had the highest rate of obesity, at 40 per cent for men and 37 per cent for women.

Read more: Health concern for mums, babies as obesity rises on maternity ward

At 36 per cent of men and 33-34 per cent of women Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges had the lowest rates of obesity.

In Bendigo 39 per cent of men were obese and 37 per cent of women.

This data is the estimate of obesity across Australia from the Public Health Information Development Unit at Torrens University. It extrapolated obesity rates for 2017-18 from Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Central Victorian children's obesity rates were higher than the national average. About 11 per cent of children in central Victorian shires were obese, three per cent more than the national average.

Bendigo Community Health Services director of Primary Health Care Services Graem Kelly said being overweight and obese could put people at risk of health problems, such as type two diabetes, eating disorders, respiratory disorders, sleep apnoea and cardiac problems.

Mr Kelly said poorer health outcomes meant reduced lifespans and chronic conditions putting pressure on the public health system.

He said day to day life also became more difficult for people who were obese.

Read more: Highest obesity rate in Victoria found in Central Goldfields

Mr Kelly said Australia needed a multi-faceted approach to fix its obesity problem with concentration and leadership from government.

But individuals also needed to accept responsibility for their choices and making sure their children ate well, he said.

Torrens University Professor John Glover said obesity had continued to rise across Australia since 1995, with a decreasing number of people at a normal weight.

He said obesity rates in places like California Gully and Eaglehawk were quite high, but approaching the regional average in Bendigo and Maiden Gully.

Professor Glover said growth in obesity was of concern. Many people who were overweight were quite healthy, but once they entered the obese category their likelihood of getting other diseases and dying prematurely rose.

Professor Glover said rates of obesity were strongly associated with disadvantage, with more obesity in poorer communities.

"Health people trying to address [obesity] is never going to work," Professor Glover said.

"It's a much bigger problem than that. And it's a matter of a whole approach, educate, health, welfare, housing, all need to be involved in addressing this issue."

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