Australia's peak vegetable industry body has welcomed the focus on obesity and diabetes at the recent United Nations General Assembly.

Ausveg has used the assembly's main topic of non-communicable diseases to raise awareness about the links between eating habits and obesity, as well as prevention and management of diabetes.

"Reducing your intake of fast foods and boosting the amount of fresh vegetables you eat on a weekly basis can be the first steps towards a healthier lifestyle," says Ausveg senior communications officer Courtney Burger.

"The World Health Organisation states that world obesity levels have doubled since the 1980's and Australia's own obesity rates have been increasing faster than any other developed country over the last 20 years.

"One in two Australians is currently classified as overweight or obese and this figure is set to rise to two thirds of Australian adults being in this unhealthy weight range by 2020."

The vegetable body recently met with the Australian National Preventative Health Agency (ANPHA) to work on targeting obesity and promoting healthy eating.

"The positives of consuming more fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet reach far beyond just your waistline. Their natural vitamins and minerals are extremely beneficial and choosing fresh food means you are lessening your intake of salt, refined sugar and carbohydrates."

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