Collie people have the highest rate of obesity in Western Australia, according to recent data released by Victoria University.
The Mitchell Institute of Victoria University released obesity and overweight data from across Australia this week ahead of World Obesity Day to highlight to impact of where people live and their wealth on health.
Collie topped the scale as most obese in WA with 34.4 per cent of people dangerously overweight, followed by the rural towns of Beverley and York.
Professor Rosemary Calder from health policy think tank said the data showed Australia's adult obesity rate had risen 27 per cent in the past 10 years to almost a third of the population.
"We have spent too long as a nation expecting individuals to be able to change their behaviour to reduce their weight," she said.
"However, the evidence is very clear that this has little chance of success without a very strong focus on the environmental factors in the places where we live that contribute to poor nutrition and inactivity."
Professor Calder said there there was no surprise that Perth's wealthy suburbs had the lowest rates of obesity in the state.
"These suburbs are usually green and leafy, with more space dedicated to parks, gardens and recreational facilities," she said.
"They have a greater density of shops selling fresh fruit and veg, greater competition promoting lower prices for healthy foods and fewer fast food outlets.
"People in our wealthier suburbs tend to have better access to information about healthy diet and the financial means to access healthy food options and enjoyable physical activity."
The Perth suburb of Nedland had the lowest obesity rate of 12.8 per cent while the highest obesity rate in the country was Wellington, NSW at 43.9 per cent.
Data has been sourced from: the Australia Bureau of Statistics, Australian Health Survey 2017-18, 2014-15, 2011-12.
