BALLARAT'S sugary soft drink consumption is five per cent higher than Melbourne, according to the Victorian Population Health Survey 2011/12.

Nineteen per cent of the town's population drinks soft drink on a regular basis - and Vic Health chief executive officer Jerril Rechter said it was time to stop and make the swap.

"Ballarat is pretty high up there on the scale," Ms Rechter said.

"Sugary drinks are the highest sugar intake in our diet. It's just become what people drink."

Vic Health has started the H30 Challenge to help fight the rising obesity problem, with Ballarat also 2.8 per cent worse than Melbourne in this area.

"Nearly two-thirds of Victorians are overweight and, by 2025, it's predicted three quarters of Australians will be overweight.

"The health risk of being obese and overweight include type two diabetes and some types of cancers.

"It's also about not being able to participate in life like other people can."

Ms Rechter said a good way to lose weight was to reduce empty calories, such as sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

"We love water because it's everywhere. It's at the kitchen tap or the water cooler at work.

"I worked out you could save nearly $1500 a year just by swapping to water."

The survey showed Ballarat also fared worse than metropolitan Melbourne for having medical checks, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and pap tests, visiting the dentist regularly, chronic conditions such as arthritis and heart disease, stroke and smoking rates and not eating enough fruit and vegetables.

However, the region was better at returning bowel cancer kits, depression and anxiety levels, visiting the doctor frequently and rates of type two diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis and cancer.

Ms Rechter said the Ballarat community was starting to understand the importance of health and wellbeing.

"Just get out there and enjoy it. Start one step at a time, have a goal and make small changes."

For more information, go to h30challenge.com.au

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au