A new analysis by the Heart Foundation has shown 64.5 per cent of people in the Orana and Far West were insufficiently active for their health.

Combined with an obesity rate of 35.7 per cent, it is what Heart Foundation NSW cardiovascular health director Julie Anne Mitchell called "both alarming and sobering".

While we may not like to hear it, the Heart Foundation's stark message is that our waist lines are widening and that both physical inactivity and obesity are two major risk factors for heart disease.

At the start of Heart Week, the foundation encouraged people to change their habits.

It also called on the government to address the costly health issue by implementing a fully-funded National Physical Activity Action Plan.

While there may be some in the community who question the need for public funds to go in this direction, it certainly should be a consideration because chronic disease represents a $1.5 billion chunk of the national health budget.

Individuals should do what they can to improve their quality of life and longevity, but we know it's not easy.

That's why it's really pleasing to hear of the launch of the Dubbo Region Obesity Project (DROP Study).

A collaboration between the University of Sydney's School of Rural Health, Western NSW Medicare Local, and health care professionals, these are the people who can lead their patients to better outcomes.