HE LOOKS the picture of health as he has his blood pressure taken at the Eumundi Markets AMA Health Hub.

But Cooran's David McDermott is the alarming face of around 20% of Australians who have not bothered to see their local GP in the last 12 months. Except in David's case make that lack of doctor consultation a period of decades.

"The last time I saw my GP was probably about 20 years ago," he said on Wednesday during his spur-of-the-moment decision to make amends.

"No harm for a check-up," he said.

Complacency is just one of the issues AMA Queensland Council of Doctors Dr Malcolm Forbes and colleague Dr Thomas Boosey have set up this market stall to combat.

A lack of spare time is also a major reason for Coast people ignoring the chance for some possible life-saving early interventions.

Another is the totally discredited conspiracy theory that having childhood vaccinations can lead to autism.

Dr Boosey said it was important to keep vaccinations up to date.

"It's something a GP is best placed to check because they keep a record," he said.

In the broader Sunshine Coast population there is only 89% of children at age five who have full immunisation and that was "really concerning" because this is below the level needed for "herd immunity".

Eumundi is the first trial of the AMA health hub and about six market goers lined up early to have their blood pressure taken and their body mass index recorded.

"Unfortunately on the Sunshine Coast, 61% of people are overweight or obese, so it is an area we want to target to see who have early stages of diabetes or heart disease who aren't going to see their GP," Dr Forbes said.

"Twenty percent of Australians haven't seen their GP in the last year and we want to get that down to zero."

Dr Forbes believes the Coast provides an ideal environment to get outdoors and exercise and urges more people to get their 30 minutes of daily strenuous exercise.

"I've been holidaying on the Sunshine Coast for the past fortnight and there's beautiful beaches and great weather."

Dr Forbes said factors to staying healthy was a good diet low in sugar and fats.

- PETER GARDINER