Researchers commissioned by the Heart Foundation and insurer Zurich interviewed 1200 respondents aged 20 and over on the telephone, using self-reported data.

The Heart Foundation says one of the most worrying outcomes of the study was that "obesity is somewhat normalising".

CEO of the Heart Foundation, Dr Lyn Roberts, said that Australians are putting themselves at risk of heart disease because they are unaware of what to do to meet healthy guidelines, particularly when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight.

"As our waistlines expand, it appears that our perception of what is a healthy weight has also expanded so many people who are overweight or obese do not actually see themselves in this way," Dr Roberts said.

Heart disease remains the most common cause of mortality among Australians. There are steps everyone can take to improve heart health including maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy food, exercising and knowing your blood-cholesterol and blood-pressure levels.

The study also found:

• 21.3 percent of the population is obese compared to 18 percent last year.
• Men are more likely to think they meet weight guidelines though they are overweight or obese with 22 percent of obese men believing they meet the guidelines compared with 12 percent of women.
• Overall, 54 percent of the population is either overweight or obese, compared to 50 percent last year.

Your say: Do you think these findings are in line with what you see? How healthy do you think you are? Share your thoughts below...