Surgeon Douraid Abbas is calling to end the shame, blame and stigma on people who were overweight or obese in what he said was a complex condition.

Mr Abbas said obesity was an issue we need to look at as a chronic disease from a community to global scale if we are to create any significant chance on the issue.

"Many people, including health professionals, see obesity as a lack of willpower or laziness...but it's not simply a case of eating less and moving more," Mr Abbas said. "Once people understand this as a chronic disease we can work together to find solutions, but not if we keep ignoring it.

"We need to chance perception, including the perception of those being told it's their fault."

Mr Abbas said there were employment laws to protect against age, gender, sexual orientation and race but not perceived weight.

He said education was essential to end bias and negative stereotypes across society and there was still lots of work to be done in this space.

Mr Abbas leads an Obesity Management Education group for medical and allied health professionals in Ballarat to share knowledge and insights with medical evidence-based research.

"It's only when we work together, as health professionals, policymakers, and community leaders, that we can address the far-reaching personal, societal, and economic impacts of obesity," Mr Abbas said.

"Not only do we need to delve deeper into the cause of this disease, but we need to understand that there are many elements to consider when treating it."

Surgery, he said, was necessarily a first or last option for treatment. While surgery could help improve chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, Mr Abbas said lifestyle changes were also key.

Mr Abbas said as well as preventative measures, good nutrition, exercise and mental health care were important components to a comfortable happier and healthier life.

He will join a pledge with fellow Ballarat health professionals and community leaders on Wednesday morning to making a small change in the workplace to help stir grassroots action and awareness.

FIFTEEN minutes' mindfulness is what Committee for Ballarat chairman Michael Poulton is asking of his staff to do daily.

Mr Poulton will make a public pledge on Wednesday morning in a united bid for a healthier Ballarat. He will join with prominent community, business and health leaders across the city to launch the iCare pledge campaign, declaring action to prevent chronic disease.

They do so on World Obesity Day.

"As leaders we need to step up and lead the way in creating the best possible environments and circumstances for health - for everyone, everywhere, all of the time," Mr Poulton said.

"We can't separate ourselves from community. We have a responsibility to show we care. This issue affects all of us in one way or another. It's not about judging or shaming anyone."

The iCare pledge is an action from the Central Highlands Regional Partnership-led Prevention Lab and is designed by the community's Champions for Change forum to spark and inspire simple grassroots change.

Champions, including Mr Poulton, are calling for others to join them.

Central Highlands Regional Partnership called for physical activity and healthy eating to be a priority for the region about two year ago, seeking community approaches to tackle a global obesity issue.

The region has one of the state's highest rates of overweight and obese residents.

Geriatrician Mark Yates, who is also executive director for research collaboration BIRCH, said trend also creates a rise in preventable chronic disease, including cancer and dementia.

Associate Professor Yates said this was a trend that could be turned about similarly to cultural shifts on smoking and seat belts.

"We no longer tolerate things that we know aren't right," Associate Professor Yates said.

To sign up to the pledge or for more details: preventionlab@healthfutures.org.au.

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.