A new report on the nation's obesity rates shows a widening gap between regional and city towns.
The report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare find adults living in regional Australia are significantly more likely to be overweight or obese.
Taking data from Australia's 31 Primary Health Networks, it found those living in country South Australia are the fattest in the country.
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While even in the slimmest area of Australia, northern Sydney, 50 per cent of the population are either overweight or obese.
Jane Martin, from the Obesity Policy Coalition, is calling for a national strategy,
"I think what these figures show is something really concerning and that's the percentage of people who are obese has increased over time and we have 11 million people who fall within the overweight or obese category. So this has huge implications for chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers for which overweight and obesity are a risk factor."
