STARTLING new figures show the average person will be 5kg heavier by 2031 and about three quarters of us will not be the current normal weight and research shows that Noosa hinterland residents may be among those most at risk.

At the moment, about 143,000, or 43%, of Sunshine Coast residents are either overweight or obese and about 20% are considered obese, University of Adelaide figures show.

According to the Sunshine Coast State of the Region 2012-31 report lower socio-economic regions identified such as Cooroy and the Cooran-Federal area "tend to have poorer health and physical activity measures in particular where there are larger numbers of those aged 65 plus".

These localities are among five communities on the Coast to have "high numbers of people aged 65 years and over and have a greater unemployment rate compared with the rest of the Sunshine Coast".

About 21,000 women and 31,000 men on the Sunshine Coast are either overweight or obese.

The Heart Foundation has released a report that shows the number of obese Australians will reach 41% in the next 15 years.

The report shows fewer than one in four Australians will be the current normal weight.

Since 1989, the average Queenslander has put on 8kg, Heart Foundation figures show.

In 1989, 10% of Queensland was obese.

In 2011-12, that increased to 30%; the highest percentage in the country. Australia-wide, 28% were obese in that year.

In the lead-up to Christmas, Heart Foundation general manager Rohan Greenland said urgent action was needed to tackle the obesity epidemic.

"It's fine to enjoy special occasions like Christmas Day, however it is important to make healthy diet choices every other day," Mr Greenland said.

He said 35% of what Australians ate was discretionary food.

"The shift away from a healthy balanced diet to one filled with an ever- increasing supply of cheap, high-calorie foods is a recipe for poor health and one of the main drivers feeding our obesity crisis."

The Heart Foundation has called for a tax on sugary drinks and a ban on junk food marketing to children.

"These policies and others are needed to bring our obesity crisis under control and it needs to happen now - we no longer have time on our side," Mr Greenland said.

The Heart Foundation report conducted with Deakin University also showed cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes cost the Australian health system $16 billion in 2011-12.

By 2031-32, this is expected to skyrocket to $58 billion.

A person is considered overweight if their body mass index is between 25 and 30 and classified obese if the index is greater than 30.

- PAMELA FROST

FAST FACTS:

In Queensland:

35% underweight or normal weight

35% overweight

30% obese

22% of people have an increased risk of a higher waist circumference

Average Queenslander has put on 8kg since 1989

In Australia, the average person has put on 6kg since 1989

*Heart Foundation